Carl Dickinson: Notts County signing targets promotion after leaving Port Vale

Carl Dickinson is reunited with two of his Port Vale team-mates from last season, Michael O'Connor and Richard Duffy, at Notts County

Carl Dickinson has said he opted to join Notts County partly because of the prospect of a promotion challenge.

The 28-year-old defender is one of six new arrivals at Meadow Lane since John Sheridan's appointment as manager last month.

Notts finished 17th in League Two last season, 24 points adrift of the play-off places.

"We want be part of something special here, and that is gaining promotion," Dickinson told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"It's something exciting that we want to be a part of. I want to make sure I hit the ground running and make sure this is a big year, not just for me but for the squad as well.

"I want to make sure we're all in it together and striving for the same thing."

Dickinson also revealed that family reasons were another factor in his decision to agree to a step down to League Two.

"I've got a family and it's still quite local to me," he explained.

"You have to think about everything and sometimes it's not all about money.

"I probably could have gone somewhere else. But would that have made me happy, being away from my family?

"I had to weigh up a lot of things and I think this is the best option for me."