Midfielder: My season of struggle

MIKE JONES . . . the midfield man has completed his move to League Two club Carlisle United

MIKE Jones has described his final season with Athletic as a "grind", after the outgoing midfielder signed a two-year deal with Carlisle.

The 28-year-old completed his move to Brunton Park yesterday and opened up about his desire to play in the middle of the pitch and exactly how tough it was battling against the drop.

Released by John Sheridan before the club's former boss decamped to Notts County, Jones is now seeking a fresh start in Sky Bet League Two under the charge of manager Keith Curle, who has made the man from Birkenhead his seventh summer signing.

"I'd have liked to get it done a bit earlier, but it's finally done and I'm really excited to be here," Jones, Athletic's player of the year in his first season at SportsDirect.com Park, told the News and Star.

"It was the way he wanted to play and how much he (Curle) has wanted me. It's quite flattering really. He sees me in the middle of the park, that's where I know I play my best football.

"As a player you want to play as high as you possibly can but sometimes you have to step down. I want to come straight back up. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe we could get promoted. With the other additions he's made, to the previous players he's added, I'm really confident we'll be at the top end of the table.

"My career at Oldham started well, but we faded away and last season was a proper struggle. Now it's about wanting to be involved in a team that's fighting for promotion rather than relegation. I do believe I've come to the right place.

"Last season was a grind to say the least. We got the job done in the end and stayed up, and it's nice not to have a relegation on your CV. As much as it wasn't a good year, it finished off alright, but I'm looking forward to getting in a team that's winning games."

Jones, a free agent whose previous club was Crawley, made 86 appearances for Athletic across two seasons, scoring 10 goals.

ATHLETIC have been drawn to face Wigan in the first round of the newly branded EFL Cup.

Gary Caldwell's side drew both games against Athletic last season, on their way to taking the League One title.

Athletic are bidding to end a wretched record by getting beyond the first-round stage of the League Cup for the first time in eight attempts. The tie will be played on the week commencing Monday, August 8.