91Èȱ¬

Nigel Clough says his quarter of a century in management has taught him to relish how Mansfield Town are performing in League One.

The 58-year-old has been at the Stags helm for just over four years and is the sixth longest serving manager in England's top four leagues.

The former England striker says his approach to the job has changed now that he is in his 26th year of management.

"It helps when you know you haven’t got long left as well - I don’t think we will be doing this in 10 years," he told 91Èȱ¬ East Midlands Today.

"And when you haven’t got too long left I think, you don’t appreciate it more but you have a different perspective on it certainly.

"You don’t worry about the future too much, what are we going to be doing in five years at this club or that club.

"You are just doing it for the now. We are enjoying this season, this game and the next game."

Mansfield Town are seventh in the table and just two points adrift of the play-off spots after 13 matches.

Although, the Stags have at least two games in hand on the four sides immediately above them.

Clough previously said the start Mansfield have made to their first season back in the third tier for 21 years is better than they could have dreamed.

And the Stags following has responded, with season ticket sales doubling from his first full season at the One Call Stadium.

When he took charge of the Stags in November 2020, Mansfield were third from bottom in League Two.

"It’s a long time in modern day football to be at one club, but we feel we have made progress in that time," Clough added.

"To see the club competing now toward the top of League One, we are extremely proud. And I think the supporters are as well. A lot of them have come back to the club in the last few years."

Clough stresses he has made those supporters central to shaping how Mansfield play.

"It’s important that we put a team on the pitch that reflects them and their values as well," he said.

"It’s a working class area and they need to see, first and foremost, their team working hard for them."