Mansfield Town made their second signing of the close season on Friday when former Northampton Town defender Zander Diamond joined the Stags.

The Cobblers’ player-of-the-year turned down a new deal at Sixfields and offers from Football League and Scottish Premier League Clubs to join manager Steve Evans.

The 6ft 2in central defender began his career with Scottish side Aberdeen in 2003 and spent eight years at the Pittodrie Stadium.

The former Scotland under-21 international has also played for Oldham and Burton before helping Northampton to promotion in 2016 and starring in their League One campaign this season.

Evans said: “I was absolutely delighted to receive a call late last night from Zander Diamond to confirm that he wanted to be part of what we’re trying to build at the One Call Stadium.

“I became very aware, not only from the representatives of the lad, but from other managers who I speak to on a regular basis, that we were in a fight to secure the services of the big man and against a host of EFL clubs, mainly in League One, but in League Two and of course in the Scottish Premier League.

“Our supporters, of course, will know him. He is a dominant centre-back who is vociferous on the pitch, a leader of men. Not only is he Northampton Town’s current Player of the Year, but he is still highly ambitious and wants to be involved in another promotion campaign after his great success under my good friend Chris Wilder.”

Earlier this week highly-rated keeper Conrad Logan, who became a cult hero at Leicester City and played well for Rochdale last season, joined the Stags.