Clough focused on players before own contract talks

Nigel Clough was appointed Mansfield boss in November 2020

Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough says he will concentrate on bolstering his squad for League One before he begins talks about a new Stags contract himself.

Promotion to the third tier has already triggered an automatic one-year contract in the 58-year-old's existing deal at the One Call Stadium.

Clough, who was voted League Two manager of the season, guided the Stags to the third tier for the first time in 21 years with a third-placed finish in League Two.

When asked if talks about his future had taken place since promotion was secured, Clough said: "At the moment no, we are concentrating on the players.

"I was on a one-year deal and if we got promoted it automatically triggers a second year, so we are starting with that and happy to be doing so."

Clough confirmed that 35-year-old striker Lucas Akins, club captain Ollie Clarke, 31, and midfielder George Maris, 28, have all agreed new deals in principle.

Contract extensions for the trio come after full-back George Williams, 31, had a one of his own triggered at the end of the season.

Retaining promotion-winning players, Clough said, will be crucial as Mansfield step up to play at a level they have spent just one season in the past three decades.

"We had a chat with the owners and we agreed that the best way in League One to find stability and to try to achieve success is to keep a majority of the lads together because it is that spirit, and everything that has developed over the past two of three seasons, that we don't want to lose," Clough told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"It you release eight or nine, you are in danger of losing the essence of that.

"It's exciting times for everyone being back in League One, and we are trying to get a few good players to bolster us and help for next season."