GUISELEY have announced that Kaine Felix has signed a new one-year deal but they have failed to hold on to young defender Reiss McNally.

Felix, who netted in the Lions' final game as they completed the double over champions King’s Lynn Town, had a brilliant season last term, picking up three gongs at the club's end of season awards.

The Peterborough-based 23-year-old made 31 appearances and scored 10 league goals.

The striker struck the winning goal in the dying minutes at York's Bootham Crescent to kickstart a consistent run of form for the National League North side, as they charged for a play-off place before the outbreak of covid 19 brought an early end to the campaign.

As for McNally, he collected the Players’ Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season accolades but decided to turn down a contract to remain at Nethermoor, instead favouring a move to National League side Solihull Moors.

Felix was happy to commit his future to the club and praised joint managers Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill for the improvement in his play.

He said: “This is hands down the best management team I have ever worked with. They make playing football fun and enjoyable but don’t miss out the serious element of when it’s time to work it’s time to work.

“I have never before worked with someone so tactically advanced and equipped as Marcus. He is simply the Pep Guardiola of the National League.

"As for Russ, he has helped me in so many ways on and off the field giving me the confidence to push on, always reinforcing the importance of working hard to get to your potential on and off the ball. He can turn an average player into a player a team can rely on week in week out.

"Between these two great managers, I have played my best football of my career without a shadow of a doubt and I have enjoyed every minute of working with them.

“We must not forget Paul Clayton either as he compliments them in everything they do. Paul has brought experience to my game and taught me how to focus when the tide is against you. He has always been there as a big brother to talk to when my form is off.”

O’Neill added: “Kaine has seen the benefits of a second season with us massively.

"When he first came to the club he was a bit flaky. If he had a couple of good touches early on, he could have a real good performance but if his first couple of touches didn’t quite come off he would go into his shell.

"The transformation from that player to his last performance away at King’s Lynn is there for all to see, not just in spells, but consistently all throughout the season.

“He changed position from winger to striker and ended up with 10 goals. It is not only his goals that have impressed but his tireless work rate up front has really set the tone for us as a team.

"He was a thorn in the side of many a defender this past season and he scored some great individual goals that really he had no right to score. He is a totally different animal now.”