We can announce that both Lee Beevers and Anthony Howell have put pen-to-paper on new Football League deals, after manager Paul Cox activated second year options in their contracts.
Defender Beevers was a warrior in our defence last term as he overcame shoulder, elbow, and facial injuries at different stages during the season, to make 34 league appearances.Â
Meanwhile, Howell proved to be a figure of consistency in our midfield, and produced several accomplished performances as we won the Blue Square Bet Premier.
Shortly after penning a new contract, Beevers said: âIâm delighted to have got everything sorted. [League Two] will be a tough challenge, but Iâm raring to go.Â
âIn previous years teams that have gone up from the Conference have done well in League Two, so I think the standard is pretty much the same.Â
âWeâve got to go out all guns blazing and not fear anyone.â
Asked about his injury woes last term, the 29-year-old continued: âTowards the end of the season I had a bit of a pain in my knee, which I sustained at Wrexham.Â
âI had a scan to find out [the extent of the injury]. I thought it was a cartilage problem at first, but I found out it was a micro-fracture, so itâs just a case of having plenty of rest.Â
âThere has been a few other little niggles, but nothing major. [My previous injuries] are all healing well and will get strengthened in time for pre-season.âÂ
Howell, whom we signed from Alfreton Town in 2011, said: âIâm enjoying my time here. I feel as though Iâm a âfans favouriteâ and your confidence grows when you have that support.Â
âThe Liverpool game was a huge confidence boost. I played against Lucas [Leiva], a Brazilian international, and I knew that I wouldnât come up against a better player for the rest of the season.âÂ
He added: âSo we had nothing to fear after that, but I always had a feeling that we would win the league, even in the early stages of the season.â
John Dempster, Alan Marriott and Ryan Tafazolli will follow suit over the forthcoming days.