Midfielder Will Jenkins targets further progress after signing new South Shields deal

Will Jenkins has set his sights on further success after the midfielder committed to South Shields until the summer of 2028.

The Mariners academy product put pen-to-paper on a new deal at the 1st Cloud Arena earlier this week after a lengthy period of negotiations were finally brought to a successful conclusion just months before Jenkins’ contract was set to come to an end.

The Gazette understands the 23-year-old’s form during the first half of the season had captured the attention of a number of club from higher up the football pyramid and one EFL club had shown an interest in securing his services. However, Jenkins stressed the ambition and drive being shown by the Mariners meant he had no concerns over penning a new two-and-a-half year agreement.

He told The Gazette: “It’s been going on for a while so to get everything sorted out and tied up, and to know where I’m at in terms of the next few years, is really good for me and it can only be a positive for my performances as well. I’ve been at Shields now for almost eight years, I know the club inside out, I know the ambition, I know where the club wants to go and for me to commit to them, it wasn’t a worry at all.

“For them to commit to me, it shows where I have come from in terms of progression since I’ve been at the club. You want to play for something and it’s such a good club to be at because we are always targeting something. It helps you as a player, it helps our careers because if you’re mid-table, there’s no drive or no push. We always want to be better.”

Strong force

After initially breaking into the Mariners first-team during their time in the Northern Premier League, Jenkins enjoyed fruitful loan stints with Dunston UTS and Morpeth Town that fast-tracked his progress when he returned to the 1st Cloud Arena. Although already viewed as a key player at South Shields, the all-action midfielder has flourished following the summer appointments of manager Ian Watson and assistant manager Carl Magnay.

Jenkins praised the duo for the impact they have made following their arrivals at South Shields and believes they have got everyone ‘pushing in the same direction’ as they look to secure promotion into the National League this season.

“I think the style of play and the structure they have, it just helps you so much on the pitch because you always know what you are doing,” explained the Mariners midfielder. “It’s not off the cuff, it’s all planned and structured and I think I’ve thrived under it with the details they have given me throughout their time here. I think I’ve noticed since the manager and Mags have come in, everyone is pushing in the same direction. Everyone is together and when the club is like that it’s a pretty strong force to stop so we are all really excited for what lies ahead.”

Meanwhile, the Mariners have confirmed academy products Louis Burns and Ewan McGowan have extended their respective loan spells at Ashington and Consett.

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