Simon Ramsden today put himself down for two more years with City and roared: We can’t wait to get going.

The ultra-consistent defender has joined the list of players signing up for next term and beyond and he admitted that pre-season cannot come round quick enough.

City are back in business under Peter Taylor in a fortnight and Ramsden revealed that the squad are impatient to get started.

He said: “There is a buzz growing about the place. Everybody is raring to go back. I speak to some of the other lads and they can’t wait to get going again.

“There’s always going to be the expectation with the size of our club in League Two. It goes with the territory.

“But we want Valley Parade to be a place that’s difficult for teams. With the quality of lads we’ve brought in and have already got here, then I think we can do that.

“We’ve got to aim as high as possible and that’s automatic promotion. From day one, everybody will be pretty focused on what we need to do.

“Anything less than a play-off place would be a massive failure for the squad we’ve got but we’re looking higher than that.”

Ramsden has banished the bitter disappointment of his first season and is keen to make up for wasted time. The fresh deal he signed today replaced the one-year option on his original contract.

The 28-year-old is nailed down until 2012 along with the likes of Lee Bullock, Michael Flynn, Luke O'Brien and new arrivals Tommy Doherty, Luke Oliver and Robbie Threlfall.

Ramsden said: “Having two-year deals gives the lads a lot of optimism. It shows the gaffer has got his faith in you and you want to repay that by being successful.

“There’s competition for places all over the team now and the gaffer is still looking to add another couple. There are pretty much two lads for every position and hopefully that will bring out the best in everyone.

“There were quite a few new lads coming in last year, myself included, and it takes time to gel. We won’t have that this time.

“Those who have come up from non-league will be better for the experience of playing a year at the professional level. And lads like Robbie and Luke know what this place is all about.”