Joe Mant has signed a new one-year contract with Ashford United despite being a target for clubs at a higher level.

The 20-year-old goalkeeper revealed he had three offers from elsewhere, but decided to stay because he believes there is a big and exciting future ahead at Homelands.

Mant put pen-to-paper at a meeting with owner Don Crosbie and manager Paul Chambers last weekend.

He said: “I told them about the offers and they explained to me what the plans are going forward as a club. They sound exciting and I want to be part of it.

“There was interest from Ryman League clubs in Kent and further away but I didn’t want to move to a club and sit on the bench – I need to be playing.”

Mant, who has made nearly 130 appearances for the club since his debut in August, 2012, also believes the planned appointment of a new goalkeeping coach can only help his development.

He added: “I wasn’t as sharp last season as I was the year before, but I am young and still a bit raw and willing to learn.”

Mant will miss the start of pre-season training due to a pre-arranged holiday, but has been running in a couple of charity 10k races to keep his fitness ticking over.