Ollie Clarke: Mansfield Town sign former Bristol Rovers captain

Ollie Clarke played more than 250 games for Bristol Rovers, 34 of them in 2019-20

Mansfield Town have signed former Bristol Rovers captain Ollie Clarke on a two-year contract.

Rovers confirmed on Tuesday that the 28-year-old midfielder was leaving after more than 10 years with the club.

Clarke helped Rovers win back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One in 2015 and 2016.

The move reunites him with former Rovers boss Graham Coughlan, who said: "Ollie is a top player who has showed his capabilities in League One."

Clarke added: "I worked with the manager last season, along with Joe Dunne (assistant manager), and really enjoyed it.

"As soon as I spoke to them, and I knew they were interested, I just wanted to get the deal done."

He is Mansfield's fourth new signing ahead of next season, following strikers Jordan Bowery and Jamie Reid, and former Luton goalkeeper Marek Stech.

Rovers chief executive Martyn Starnes said Clarke had been a "terrific servant".

He told the club website: "We had been negotiating a new deal with Ollie, with the offer of a testimonial to mark his decade-long service, but he felt the time was right for him to seek a fresh start elsewhere."