TONY Mowbray has expressed his delight after striker Marcus Tudgay agreed to extend his stay with the Sky Blues for another year.
The 32-year-old revealed on his official Twitter account on Tuesday that he has agreed a new one-year deal which will keep him at the Ricoh Arena until July 2016.
Tudgay made 23 appearances for the Sky Blues last season and scored four goals after joining on a free transfer last summer.
The former Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County striker scored two goals in vital wins over Chesterfield and Crawley Town as Mowbray’s side secured their League One status on the final day of the campaign.
Although not a regular under former boss Steven Pressley, Tudgay impressed Mowbray with his off-field attitude as well as his on-field influence towards the back end of last season.
“I’m delighted to see Marcus Tudgay stay at the club for another season,” said Mowbray.
“Marcus was a player I highlighted at the back end of last season as someone who gives us some much-needed experience but also an intelligence and an awareness on the ball.
“He is a player who has a presence in the dressing room and I’ve really enjoyed working with him since my arrival at the club in February.
“I’m hoping after a good pre-season, Marcus can claim a starting spot with his performances and help us challenge at the top end of the League One table.”
Defender Chris Stokes and academy graduate Ivor Lawton are also expected to sign new deals in the coming days.
Stokes, 24, was released by Forest Green last month and has been offered a chance to sign full-time to provide competition for the left-back position alongside Ryan Haynes.
So too has midfielder Lawton, who progressed through the club’s academy and has been highlighted as a potential leader in the future by Mowbray.
Speaking back in May, Mowbray described Lawton as a ‘warrior’ and has the ‘potential in his make up to become an iconic player’ despite having yet to make his first team debut.
But a handful of impressive performances for the Under-21s has earned him a future at his boyhood club.
