Clare had been on-loan at Gateshead from Mansfield

Gateshead have signed Mansfield Town striker Daryl Clare on a free transfter, following a three-month loan spell at the International Stadium.

The Jersey-born forward, 31, scored eight goals in 10 games with the Tynesiders, prompting him to request a move to the part-time club.

"Daryl no longer wants to play for Mansfield Town," Stags boss David Holdsworth told the club website.

"I haven't seen this coming. I tried everything to get him here."

Clare has twice finished top scorer in the Conference during his career, with Boston and Chester City, and has more than 150 goals to his name during his 14-year career.

CLARE: THE GOALSCORER 2001-02 - Boston - 24 goals 2002-03 - Chester - 19 goals 2006-07 - Burton - 17 goals

Grimsby were the first club to show interest, and the striker spent five and a half years at Blundell Park, enjoying loan spells with Northampton and Cheltenham during that time, before a permanent switch to Boston United in July 2001.

After finishing top scorer in the Conference with the Pilgrims, Clare joined Chester in October 2002 and repeated the feat before returning to Boston for a second spell in November 2004.

Spells at Crawley, Burton Albion and Rushden then followed before the one-time Republic of Ireland B striker joined Mansfield on a permanent basis in March 2009.

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