Mansfield Town sign experienced striker Andy Cook from Walsall

Mansfield Town have made their first signing of the summer with Andy Cook joining in a permanent signing from Walsall.

The 28-year-old striker signs for the Stags for an undisclosed fee and penned a two-year deal for the amber and blues.

Cook scored 18 goals in all competitions for Walsall and is a fantastic addition to the squad by manager John Dempster.

Cook, who began his playing career at Carlisle, enjoyed two loan spells at Barrow before the move became a permanent one in 2011.

After scoring 18 goals in 60 matches for the Bluebirds, the marksman joined Grimsby, before re-joining Barrow in July 2014, netting 38 goals in 48 league matches.

His remarkable goal-scoring exploits continued at his next club, Tranmere Rovers, as Cook found the net on 51 occasions in a two-year stint.

Cook’s spell at Rovers saw him help the club to a 2-1 victory over Boreham Wood in the National League play-off final at Wembley last summer.

At the end of his Tranmere contract, the front man joined Walsall and became their top goalscorer in League One last season.

Stags manager John Dempster spoke on how great of a signing this was for the club.

He said:

“I’m really appreciative of the chairman (John Radford) who has supported this signing and to Carolyn (Radford, CEO) for getting the deal over the line.

“Andy’s a player who I have admired from both playing against him and watching him.

“He’ll bring a physical presence to our attacking play which I think we’ve been lacking since the injury to Craig Davies, who himself is working hard to get back to full fitness.

“We have fought hard to capture Andy’s signature due to the high interest in him from other clubs, both in this division and League One.

“Andy is a player who will enable us to maintain possession in the opponent’s half of the field and bring other players in to play.

“Andy has an impressive goals tally and is a nightmare to play against.”