Neal Bishop not surprised by release from Mansfield Town

The veteran midfielder was released following the announcement of the club’s retained list - a decision which he says he was ‘expecting’ and has no hard feelings over.

“When I joined I thought at the start that it would probably be me done when the contract runs out, with my age and things,” he added.

“The way the season started and the way it was going, I just wasn’t enjoying it at all. I spoke to the manager when he came in and told him my thoughts.

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“I said I wasn’t feeling good and was struggling with tendinitis in my achilles, it was agony and I wasn’t enjoying it any more.

“I was just honest and told him what was in my head. I didn’t want him to think I was just seeing out time and I felt it was the right thing to do.

“The manager was the one telling me to not to retire. He was spot on with me and told me to keep playing. He hinted there might be something at the end of the season if I wanted to keep playing.

“It never really got to a formal thing so I wasn’t really surprised.

“It was spot on, we had a good chat and I certainly didn’t fall out. It’s all been left on good terms.”

And if that turns out to be time on the former Scunthorpe man’s playing career, Bishop knows it’s been a good one.

“It’s been a privilege and an honour to play over 500 Football League games and something I never thought I would do,” he added.

“To play in every league apart from the Premier League is not something a lot of players do. I cannot grumble to be honest.”

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