Sid Nelson, who became Micky Mellon’s fourth summer signing on a two-year contract, has revealed that it was the fabric of the club that was the difference between signing or going elsewhere.

Nelson, who arrived on loan last season from Sky Bet Championship outfit Millwall, had interest this summer from Championship side Hull City as well as Lincoln City and Southend in League One, but the Tranmere move made sense.

“It was not just League One football that made me want to come back, because I did have other offers on the table.

“Obviously, winning at Wembley gave me that platform.

“Tranmere just attracted me because of the connection that I have got with everyone and the club in general, the fans are fantastic”, Nelson told the Globe.

The 23-year old is confident that the club is going in the right direction and opened up about what had driven him to sign to Rovers.

“It is a club that is on the up and a club that is going places now. The gaffer, we have a tight bond. It is just a nice feeling to come somewhere you are wanted.”

Going into pre-season, Nelson wants to make sure he is ready to fight for his place in a busy defence following the club bolstering the options in defence.

“The first goal for me is to get back into pre-season, get sharp and be ready for the first game of the season.

“I want to be here for the long run, try as hard as I can and keep this club as high as possible,” he stated.

“Any bit of competition is healthy; it is a kick up the backside to know that you have got to go into training every day and trying your best.

“When your opportunity comes, you have just got to grab it with both hands really, that is what it is about, and strengthening at the back will help us go into this league and be competitive.”

Looking at targets for the upcoming season, Nelson is not one to sit back and rest, the defender revealed that he always wants to strive for more.

“Personally, I want to try and push myself on and to prove myself in League One.

“We all know what we are about, we are all pals off the pitch which is a massive factor and we will go again”, Nelson said.

“It is about being competitive, the boys said that last year coming up to League Two but League One is a lot more difficult.

“With the new additions and the fact, we have kept the core of the squad from last season, there is nothing stopping us going on to achieve more big things.

“We just need to go into pre-season, get the games underway, and when the start of the season comes, we can kick on from there.”

Nelson, who has made Rovers his first club after leaving Millwall where he came through the ranks, became a real fans favourite at Prenton Park last season and was part of a ‘brick wall’ defensive partnership with Manny Monthe.

During Nelson’s period at the newly promoted League One club last season, he made ten appearances, and was part of just two defeats in a steady defence with Monthe, who also signed a new two-year deal at the club this summer.

The defender, speaking about playing with the former Queens Park Rangers youth player, explained how vital Monthe is to the squad.

“It is important for the team that Manny has stayed on, but for me, it will be nice to play and train with Manny again because of the partnership that we had at the end of last season, getting promoted, will last with me for the rest of my life.

“He will be a key factor to us being competitive this season.”

Mellon has managed to keep most of the core of the squad together following the promotion to League One, Nelson believes it is more important than ever.

“It helped the lads at the start of last season, obviously I was not there, but getting promoted from the National League, coming up to League Two, everyone fought hard to be competitive.

“The core of the group played a big part in that and we kicked on and went into league one.”