FIVE Forest Green Rovers players have signed extended deals with the Blue Square Bet Premier high-fliers.
Midfielder Al Bangura joined Rovers in the summer of 2011 but had an injury-plagued first season at the New Lawn.
He is now back to full fitness and has added a further two years to his current contract, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign.
Left-back Chris Stokes will also remain with Rovers until June 2015 after a one-year extension.
The 21-year-old was Supporters’ Player of the Season in 2011/12 and has featured 11 times in the league so far this term.
Aaron Racine, also 21, arrived at the club this summer, signing a three-month deal with David Hockaday’s men.
He was rewarded with a two-year deal after a string of impressive performances and has now committed to a further 12 months at Rovers.
Back-up goalkeeper Matthew Bulman is yet to play in the Conference Premier this season but has been handed a new one-year deal and will now stay on the club’s books until June 2014.
Versatile full-back Ed Asafu-Adjaye, 23, made the switch from Luton Town to Forest Green in the summer and has also put pen-to-paper on an extension running until the summer of 2014.
Speaking about the quintet’s decision to commit to Rovers, David Hockaday said: “We’re delighted to announce that five of our current players have extended their contracts with us.
“This is part of our grand design – we want to build and evolve into a strong club.
“We bring in young players and if they do well, we will extend their contracts.
“The players have shown trust in us and we in turn have shown trust in them.”
