City this afternoon splashed out £25,000 on Conference hitman Jake Speight.

The diminutive 25-year-old striker netted 17 goals for Mansfield last term from 33 appearances, only 15 of which were starts. His haul included a hat-trick against Kidderminster on the final day.

Speight, who was also being tracked by Luton, Cheltenham and Stevenage, began as a trainee with Sheffield United. He moved on to Bury for a season before dropping out of the league.

His time in non-league included a sixth-month spell at Farsley Celtic in the 2008-2009 campaign, scoring six in 15 games.

He joined Mansfield last summer and finished their top scorer but turned down the offer of a new contract.

City co-chairman Mark Lawn said: "If he can score 17 to 20 goals for us next season, we will be well pleased."