Callum Ainley admits that the club’s ability to entice the younger players in our squad to re-sign this summer had an impact on his own decision to sign a new three-year-deal.

Manager David Artell and his staff pulled off a masterstroke before the end of the season with Ainley joined by his close pal Charlie Kirk and James Jones in signing new deals at Gresty Road.

They followed a whole host of contract renewals with the likes of Harry Pickering and Lewis Reilly also committing their future on a more long-term basis.

Senior pros Paul Green and Shaun Miller have seen followed suit.

Ainley, 20, who scored 5 goals in 52 appearances last season, rejected a more lucrative offer elsewhere to remain loyal to the club he joined as a 7-year-old hopeful.

Callum told the club’s official website: “It was good to see the other lads sign as well because you want good players around you and although it wasn’t the only reason I signed, it did have an impact. It did play a part because you can see what the manager and the club are trying to build.

“We want to finish as high as we can next season. We know we should have finished a lot higher than we did last season with the players we have, but we saw in the last few months of the season what we are capable of.

“The manager had a big impact on my decision and I think we are heading in the right direction. We have to carry what we did at the back end of last season into the new season.

He added: “It is nice to get away from it for a bit and have a break but once the pre-season starts it is all about building up that match fitness and being ready. It is up to us to all push on and do better next season and that is what I will aim to do as an individual and we will as a team.”