Bishop experience will be key for Stags next season

Bishop will be 37 in the first week of the new signing but is still full of energy and guile.

“He brings us experience and when you look at his career over the last three or four years he has always been part of something successful,” said Flitcroft.

“At Scunthorpe over the last couple of years you could argue they over-achieved – and Neil was a massive, massive part of that.

“He does have that experience. But he’s also got the energy and desire.”

He added: “The biggest thing when I spoke to him was his desire to come to a club on an upward curve. It was really important for Neil to feel the force of our ambition, which he did.

“To get a solid, top professional in the dressing room and on the training pitch, demanding standards was important for this group. “With the lads we looked to release from last season, our squad has gone younger, and he gives us that experience.”