Mansfield Town manager Duncan Russell says his players deserve great credit for earning him the job.

Russell has been appointed Stags boss until the end of this campaign following a three-game unbeaten run while in caretaker charge.

And the 52-year-old told BBC Radio Nottingham: "The players have kept me in the job.

"It's all about the players and if the players are together you have a chance - it's not about the backroom staff."

Russell is convinced he has a squad good enough to win promotion to the Football League within the next two seasons.

"The supporters need to stick with us because we have a team of players that really do care and we will bring success," he said.

"I will aim to get us back into the Football League but whether it is this season I do not know.

"The chairman [John Radford] had a lot of people on the list but he chose me and I have a great chance here.

"Managing a football team is something I have wanted to do all my life and I will do the best I can."

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