Craig Clay says he is “over the moon” at having extended his stay at Leyton Orient.

The midfielder signed a new two-year deal earlier today and expressed his delight at being able to be a part of the O’s squad as they prepare to return to the Football League.

“I’m buzzing, I’m over the moon. Since a few talks a couple of months ago I’ve said straight away that I wanted to stay here and be a part of this team and going forward I want to be part of this club,” he told the Leyton Orient website.

“This year especially the fans have grown to me a little bit now and they’ve made me feel more welcome, as have the lads in general. With all the staff as well it’s a tight-knit group so I don’t see any point in wanting to leave that. I want to stay here, I’m happy, I’m settled with my life down here and it just makes sense.”

As well as it being a great season for the club having won the National League, it was a campaign of personal triumph for Clay as well as he picked up the Player of the Season Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s awards night.

He said: “It’s been a good season all around. Obviously, promotion was the main aim and getting the Players’ Player, who you train with day in day out, is good recognition too.

“I was saying to Couls [Josh Coulson] yesterday that I can’t wait to see when the fixtures come out. I know that’s a while away and we’ve got the summer to enjoy but to see who we’ve got back in the league, it’s exciting times ahead.

“I had my meeting with [Justin Edinburgh] the other day and it was positive. Since I’ve come in it’s been good to have a man-to-man relationship with him, he’s put his faith in me and I’d like to think I’ve re-paid him this season but it doesn’t stop there. I want to repay him more this season and I want to go on to be an important part of the team again.”