Mansfield Town to chase experience in the summer market

“I think we've got the nucleus of a very good squad,” he said.

“We are talking about bringing six to eight players in and that's not a massive overhaul.

“It's good we've tied quite a few of the younger players down that we want around the squad for next season.

“So I think six to eight is a good, healthy number for next season to move us forward.”

He added: “I think next season we will be better equipped to deal with things like that happened around January time.

“If things go against you with injuries I think the squad and the team will be better placed.”

On his eight targets, he said: “The vast majority will be experienced professionals.

“Throughout the league all the top teams have this core or nucleus of good, experienced pros. The best players in League Two this season have been those experienced players.

“It's because they have played at a higher level and generally stand out as do the right thing the majority of the time.

“We want good players more than anything. Not just big signings and flash signings, headline signings and players like that. We just want good, solid players and good value deals to take us forward.”

Clough has no plans to take a break after Saturday's final game of the campaign at Port Vale.

“Sorting the signings will be the priority,” he said. “So most of May and probably most of June will be taken up with chasing our targets.

“It will be varying stages. We will try to get one or two in quickly, maybe even three.

“But you have got to wait on play-offs, you've got to wait on other clubs and a lot of other things.

“Not many players will commit straight away. If they are out of contract, they want to see what's around which is understandable. We will put something on the table and try to persuade them from there.”

On keeping on-loan Burton Albion midfielder Stephen Quinn he added: “David Sharpe (Mansfield's chief executive) has been onto it with his representative and they are currently in dialogue.”