GOALKEEPER Sam Russell has agreed terms on a one-year deal to remain at Forest Green.

A popular figure on-and-off the pitch, Russell,34, returned to his spiritual home from Gateshead last summer and was an ever-present as Rovers gained promotion to the Football League.

Russell has made 192 appearances for the club, making him third in the list of all time appearances and just nine short of the club record which is held by former goalkeeper Steve Perrin.

And goalkeeper- coach Steve Hale insists Russell was a vital cog in Rovers’ promotion.

He said: “Sam had a good season, to play all 54 games in the season is some achievement at any level and to do it in a promotion winning season says a lot about the part Sam played in the promotion. He is a consummate professional who looks after himself and manages his body well and rarely missed training throughout the season as well. He goes about his work in a very professional manner.”

Forest Green boss Mark Cooper has already muted the intention of having three keepers on the books next season and has Frenchman Simon Lefebvre tied to a one-year deal.

Hale added: “We are currently working on a few different options and obviously the financial fair play situation means we also have to be mindful on the whole squad and the goalkeeping positions are no different.

"We need three goalkeepers to cope with the workload of training and ensuring we have cover now that there are transfer windows. Also, with seven substitutes allowed, that will mean that we will have a goalkeeper on the bench every game, which we couldn’t do so much last season with only five subs as it was important there were plenty of outfield options and that took priority over the goalkeeping position as it’s generally only a sending off or an injury that dictates a goalkeeper needs to go on.”