Mark Yeates reveals Alan Sheehan role in decision to join Notts County

New Notts County player Mark Yeates has admitted that Alan Sheehan played a big part in convincing him of the club's stature, prestige and setup.

The former Blackpool winger was one of six players recruited by Kevin Nolan and Alan Hardy ahead of the January transfer window's closure.

Yeates told the Nottingham Post: "Sheez and I go back a long way. I went on loan to Leicester from Tottenham as a young lad and he was coming through the youth team there.

"We've known each other since we were kids and, funnily enough, our fathers played together in the League of Ireland.

"Our families know each other well and I think he tells everybody he is a legend in Nottingham so that's no secret for anyone.

"I know he scored a penalty here to help keep them up. Shaun Derry and Keith Curle speak highly of him.

"He is a big character, somebody you would call a man because he is not afraid to say what he feels.

"He's a good mate of mine and I think if he could, he would definitely come back at some point.

"He was close to coming back before and he tried to get me down here with him when Shaun was in charge.

"But I know a lot of players who have been here, like Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Andre Boucard and Gary Liddle.

"There is a long list of lads who have played here and never had a bad word to say about it.

"If anything they speak massively of it. But I know how big the club is from the outside looking in.

"It was always a club that, in the back of my mind, I could always see playing for. Luckily enough it has happened."

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