CHRISTIAN Doidge insists he isn't distracted by speculation about his future as he prepares for the start of the new season.

The striker is reportedly attracting interest from Sunderland and other clubs.

Rumours about a potential move won't go away but the 25-year-old hasn't been distracted but is flattered to have interest shown in him.

"I don’t mind it to be honest," Doidge said. "It’s one of those things that happens in football from the Ryman Premier to the Premier League, it’ll happen whatever club you’re at. If you’re doing well and scoring goals you’re going to get interest, to be honest if you weren’t getting it you’d be thinking ‘what have I got to do earn it’ but it’s actually quite nice, it gives me a lift and shows im doing something right.”

"This club’s been wonderful for me. I’ve had the best two seasons of my career and I love it here I get on with the manager well it’s the perfect fit for me at the moment.” Doidge scored 20 league goals for Rovers last season and is hoping to replicate that form in the new season.

"It’s important for me to keep the momentum and do it again. A lot of people say when you score 20 goals the next season is the most important to do it again and prove people wrong and that I’m a natural goalscorer and hopefully me scoring goals will help the football club."

The forward is relieved pre-season is over and is now looking forward to FGR's opener at Grimsby Town on Saturday.

He said: “I'm really excited, it’s been a hard pre season and it’s nice to get it out of the way now. I feel sharp and match fit and that’s all you want to achieve from pre season.

"The games aren't the same as real games so everyone's buzzing for Saturday now. It’s going to be a tough game but you’d rather get Grimsby away early in the season instead of mid season when its cold and wet."

Doidge is optimistic of Forest Green's chances this season and feels the club are in a much stronger position than 12 months ago.

"I feel like the clubs a lot more professional. As a club we didn’t really know what to expect going into the Football League but we’ve been through it, had the lows so its time to have a bit of high now and really work hard.

"It’s hard to say until you start playing some games but the aim is to get in and around the play-offs. I think we’ve got the squad to do it but the boys have to get the results in. We’ve got to stop leaking goals, we were to easy to score against but as long as we stop that I think we’ll be fine."