Experienced defender Nicky Hunt is looking forward to another 12 months in professional football after recently signing a new deal with the club.

The 35-year-old had been linked with a possible role in coaching but the former Bolton Wanderers man has agreed to stay on as he expects to enjoy a successful season.

Hunt told iFollow the Alex: "You start off hating the running in pre-season, especially the older you get.

"But once you get past that and the pre-season games start and you are still working hard, you know what could come at the end of it, maybe a Wembley Play Off final or automatic promotion.

"Those are the type of things you want to be involved in and hopefully next season we can be.

"I want to play on for as long as I can and maybe next season to push for the Play Offs.

"If we get off to a good start it will give us the basis to kick on, so it will be tough. The teams coming up will be good, and the ones coming down will want to bounce back.

"But I think we were unlucky not to have that push for the top seven at the end. I want to play on for as long as I can and maybe next season to push for the Play Offs.

He added: "At this stage of my career I just want to play games, it doesn’t matter to me which position as long as I’m playing well and giving my all for the team.

It’s a great set of lads and a good bond between us. We’ll all come back fitter and stronger."