ALLOA ATHLETIC hero Iain Flannigan says it would’ve taken something very special to prise him away from Clackmannanshire after penning a new deal at the club last week.

The talented midfielder was highly sought after catching the eye with some top performances in the SPFL Championship last season, and revealed he turned down an offer to stay at that level to remain with the Wasps and working under gaffer Jack Ross.

Flannigan told Advertiser sport: “I had a few things to consider over the summer and I had a good offer to stay in the Championship. I had to consider it, but I was open and honest the whole time with the gaffer and I told him from the get go that it would need to be something really special the other way to get me to move. I love it here at Alloa, we have a good team spirit here.

“There is always a fair turnover of players at a part-time club, but the core players have stayed here for a number of years now. It is great to see so many of them hang around again and the likes of Spence and Cawley coming back there is no doubting it was a big factor in me staying too. We have a great bond among us and with the fans too so it is a very hard thing to leave behind.

“The gaffer was brilliant with me and let me make my own decision. It was always going to be difficult for another team to offer me something better than what we have here thought, because since the gaffer has came in there has been a clear shift in our performances. It is a great working environment and that was at the forefront of my mind when making my decision. It is exciting to hear the gaffer’s plans for next season and we are all firmly behind that so I was delighted to re-sign in the end.

“The squad is looking really good now and it is certainly well balanced. We have a number of quality players and the majority of the signings look like good ones. We look to have strength throughout and there is no doubting that was another factor in me wanting to stick around.”

Flannigan says he doesn’t pay any attention to the Wasps being tipped as one of the favourites for the title in League One next season, but instead thinks they should take a game by game approach.

The midfield dynamo was the club’s top scorer last season, but admits he is relieved to see some much needed firepower added to the squad this summer.

He said: “I don’t pay too much attention to any hype about us being one of the favourites. For me, I want to go out every game, do my best and look to win the game no matter who the opposition are. I think all players are the same. The club will obviously have certain goals to hit for the season because it is more of a level playing field in League One as opposed to the Championship where we were trying to scrap for our lives every week against full time teams. There are a lot of teams in this league with a lot of quality who will be looking to challenge at the top as well, but we will just take it a game at a time, give a good account of ourselves and if we can do that then I am sure we will have a successful season.

“I was delighted to be top scorer last year, but without meaning any disrespect to the lads that played up front for us last year, it was evident from early on that we were a bit short up front in terms of numbers. Duffy and Layne both did well for us towards the end of the season, but it looks to be something the manager has addressed quickly this summer. Spence and Longworth coming in obviously helps, but I feel like we have goals from all over the park in our side now. I had a 100% record from penalties last season and I will still be looking to hit some free kicks too, but there is no doubt there will be extra competition for them this season.”

The former Partick Thistle star is hopeful he is over the worst of the back injury that has plagued him for the past two seasons and is now looking to build on a decent end to the campaign last season.

Flannigan added: “It is well documented that I have had a bit of an issue with my back over the years, but I am hopefully at the stage where I can manage it as best as I can. I played 12 games in a row towards the end of the season there so that can only be a good sign.

“A lot of it is just about tweaking my training and do everything that I can to give me the best chance of playing in the majority of games. It is vital to get a good pre-season under my belt. Injuries are part and parcel of football, but I will just be focusing on having a good season.”