Stags continue contract talks with MacDonald

Negotiations continue on a new extended contract for Mansfield Town midfielder Alex MacDonald.
Picture by Gareth Williams/AHPIX.com; Football; Sky Bet League Two; Swindon Town v Mansfield Town; 10/2/18  KO 15.00; The Energy Check County Ground; copyright picture; Howard Roe/AHPIX.com; Mansfield's Alex MacDonald outmuscles Swindon's Paul MullinPicture by Gareth Williams/AHPIX.com; Football; Sky Bet League Two; Swindon Town v Mansfield Town; 10/2/18  KO 15.00; The Energy Check County Ground; copyright picture; Howard Roe/AHPIX.com; Mansfield's Alex MacDonald outmuscles Swindon's Paul Mullin
Picture by Gareth Williams/AHPIX.com; Football; Sky Bet League Two; Swindon Town v Mansfield Town; 10/2/18 KO 15.00; The Energy Check County Ground; copyright picture; Howard Roe/AHPIX.com; Mansfield's Alex MacDonald outmuscles Swindon's Paul Mullin

Stags want to tie him down for longer than the coming season and club CEO Carolyn Radford said they need to strike a balance between making a player feel appreciated and not upsetting other players.

“We have an option on Alex and I know as a footballer you want to feel appreciated,” she said. “But we have a strategy on what our players are on and a budget.

“Obviously all footballers and managers want to be paid fortunes so it’s making a player feel valued but we have our limits. Negotiations are hard sometimes.”

Chairman John Radford added: “You want to keep the dressing room evenly balanced.”