New Mansfield defender Rollin Menayese delighted to be reunited with former Bristol Rovers manager

The 22-year-old has penned a two-year contract at One Call Stadium after joining from Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

And he admitted the lure of working with Graham Coughlan once again had been a driving factor.

“I worked with the manager at my previous club and we get on well,” he said. “I know the type of football he wants to play. It was a big attraction working with him again

“He is very black and white and honest and that is rare in football. His ideas on how he wants to play and what he wants from me are clear.

“We spoke on the phone, I came down and spoke to the lads who only said positive things.

“I feel this club knows where it is going. I know the manager well, he knows me well.

“This club has the potential to be successful this year and I want to be a part of it.”

The commanding 6ft 3 in defender game through the youth ranks at Cardiff City and captained Wales at U16 level.

He made 23 appearances for the Gas during the last campaign following previous loan spells at Swindon and Aldershot.

And Menayese is now keen to build on that and become a firm fixture in Mansfield’s starting eleven.

I feel like I need to be playing week in week out,” he added. “I am really excited to join the club and so happy to get the move over the line.

“I can’t wait to get training and meet the lads.There was interest in January. I spoke to the manager and agent and I felt this was the right place for me right now

“I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of matches. I give 100 per cent in everything I do.

“I like to keep clean sheets and that is what I want to do here. I just give my all in every game and I can’t wait to show that.”

And manager Graham Coughlan backed his new man to take his game to the next level at Mansfield.

“We feel he can make us stronger and hopefully become a big player at Mansfield,” he said

“We have a development project on our hands with Rollin. He wants to push his career to the next level, and he can do that with us here.”