I want to see out my career at Mansfield Town - Jamie McGuire

The 32-year-old put pen to paper on a fourth season with the Stags this week and said: “I am buzzing – it’s another year with the club and I am looking forward to next season now.

“I would have signed last week if I could, but I’ve had to wait until all the paperwork was sorted. Now it’s all signed and sealed.

“I want to finish my career here. I am settled up here. Hopefully I want to probably move up here, stay up here and live up here.”

On the field McGuire brings an experience and enthusiasm supporters love - even if occasional ‘over-enthusiasm’ get him into trouble with referees – but he is also valuable in the dressing room and around the club as a joker and motivator.

“I believe in the gaffer and the gaffer believes in what I bring to the club,” he said.

“Okay so I am not everyone’s cup of tea sometimes. But I think I bring a lot more to the club in terms of being around the club. When I’m called on to go onto the pitch I go and do my job.

“I am now entering my fourth season here and I am made up. You look at the clubs I’ve been at, I haven’t been at many clubs. I had four years at Fleetwood, before that just non-League Cammell Laird and Droylsden. So long may this continue.

“I think it’s been a progression for myself. I think I’ve got better each season. I am a lot calmer person now.

“I bring a different kind of role to the team which the gaffer wants me to do. Hopefully I can do that next year and bring a lot more quality to the team.”

On last season’s 12th place finish, he added: “Progression – that’s a big word for us. From the start of the season for the first six months we were up there weren’t we? We were in the top eight for most of the season.

“I think what killed us a bit was the little blip in March, but that’s just one of them – that’s football.

“You can be on a high and then be on a low. But, on reflection I think it’s been a good season for us in terms of the club as a whole and the squad as a whole. Hopefully we can take that on into next season and do a lot better.”

McGuire clearly relishes his role as court jester and smiled: “I am a character. I am vibrant and I am buzzing.

“I get the lads going – I think that’s the main thing. I love causing mayhem and doing my little tricks. I like to cause a bit of mischief and this and that.”

One of his recent victims was centre half Ryan Tafazolli.

“Everyone thinks Ryan is a good-looking man, but I ended up putting Deep Heat in his boxers, said McGuire.

“He got out the shower and put them on. I think we were actually going on a night out after the game.

“I could see his face burn up, but to be fair he took it with a big smile. I was laughing my head off so he knew it was me.

“That’s just one example – but there are loads and some aren’t nice ones!

“But you have to keep morale high and you have to keep everyone level-headed and on the same path with this club. It’s not just me, there are a few others as well. Everyone bounces off each other.”

With so many players likely to be out of work this summer, McGuire is very pleased to get things sorted so early.

“You’ve seen the lists from other clubs of players they’ve let go with eight or nine on each, so I am happy to have signed and have it done and dusted,” he said.

“I will now just have a rest and a few holidays, rest the body and we will be due back in soon to kick on for the new season.”

McGuire has built a real rapport with the fans and his summer message to them was: “Like last season, stick by us.

“Hopefully when the new season comes we’ll have made a few new signings.

“Everyone get behind us as, when Mansfield as a whole town gets behind us, there is nothing better than playing here and doing well for his club.

“I have met a lot of good friends in this town as well as the lads I play with.

“There’s some really good people around this town and this club and you want to repay it – hopefully we can do that this coming season by doing well.”