Stags’ first signing of the summer Conrad Logan has highlighted the club’s ambition as one of the major factors for him putting pen-to-paper at One Call Stadium.
The 31-year-old goalkeeper became manager Steve Evans’ first signing of the summer by penning a deal at the club earlier today.
And the former Leicester City shot-stopper has been impressed with the ambition of everyone associated with the Stags in outlining their aims for next season.
“I’m excited at the prospect of playing here. It’s a good club with massive ambitions and I’m raring to get going," Logan said.
“It’s a drop in division. Hopefully it’s only for a year because this is a club that’s striving for promotion. Once I spoke to the manager (Steve Evans) and weighed things up, the decision was quite easy and I’m happy that I’ve made the move.
“I’ve seen the progress of the club since the manager’s come in and I don’t live that far away, which is obviously a factor, but I also get to see a lot of Mansfield in the news and the ambition of the club, the chairman (John Radford) and people around [the club].
“A combination of those things really tipped it (Logan’s decision) towards Mansfield.”
The former Rochdale man says he is looking forward to a promotion push next season after the club publicly stated their ambition for the 2017/18 campaign.
“This game’s all about winning really and if the club’s ambitious and wants to strive towards, there’s no point coming to a club that says ‘we’re looking to try and stay in this league’ or ‘we’re looking for mid-table and sneak in the play-offs’.
“Why not set your ambition out as high as you can and that’s what they’ve done.
“They’ve come out publicly and said that, so there’s not hiding from the fact of what the plan is for next year and as players, you’ve got to go out and embrace it and look forward to the task.”
After playing professionally for more than 10 years, Logan believes he is a leader and likes to see himself as someone his team-mates can rely on.
“At any level, I think you’ve got to be reliable and safe and be someone that players can rely on. I would like to think I can do that.
“I would like to think I’m a leader. Being a goalkeeper, you have to lead. You lead from the back and throughout the team and I like to think I can be a presence in goal which people can rely on.
“I love winning and I’m very, very passionate when I play and hopefully the Mansfield fans will see that.
“I like to think I’m a winner and someone who wants to do well and is passionate about it.”
Finally, the former League Two promotion-winner says the quick nature of his signing shows that manager Steve Evans has already identified his targets for next season as he aims to build a squad capable of challenging at the top of the division.
“It’s a club that is very, very ambitious and making the right noises, so for them to bring me in so quickly after the season shows that the manager has his stall set out for next season and has identified players and wants to get his business done as quick as he can.
“For me personally, I’m delighted to get it done and get it over the line and I’m looking forward to the start of the season.”
Supporters can login to Stags PlayerHD to view Conrad Logan’s exclusive first interview.
