SHAUN PEARSON wants to be the man that captains Wrexham to promotion so he jumped at the chance to extend his stay at the club.

The centre-back, who arrived at The Racecourse in May 2017 on a two-year deal, has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2020-21 season.

Happy with how things are going on the pitch, Pearson and his family enjoy living in the Wrexham area and he was in no mood to head to pastures new when the opportunity came to commit his future.

"I am delighted to extend it," said Pearson.

"We spoke about it a little bit and were back and forth in the negotiations.

"I hoped to get it sorted and then the thing was the length of contract. "Me and my family are well and truly settled in Wrexham, we are in the process of buying a house, so we see our foreseeable future here.

"Once we came to an agreement we got it done and dusted, and I am really pleased."

Wrexham, among the leading pack, are spending an 11th season in the fifth tier and Pearson knows how much it would mean if the Reds clinched a return to the Football League.

"In terms of football I have been here one-and-a-half years and I know how much it would mean to everyone to get out of this league," said Pearson.

"I am being selfish here but I want to be that person that leads Wrexham to promotion.

"I definitely think it will be my best moment in football if we manage to achieve that.

"I say it all the time to the lads that sign here that if they are part of the Wrexham team that gets promoted back to the league, you will be remembered.

"It is only a few years ago but fans look back very fondly to when we finally got out of the Conference with Grimsby."

Wrexham's promotion challenge fell away during the run-in last season but the Reds find themselves among the pacesetters once again.

Fans favourite Pearson senses a real sense of optimism that Wrexham can finally achieve their goal.

"Even in the short space of time I have been at Wrexham, I see a different mentality," said Pearson.

"People were desperate to get out of this division when I came but I'm not sure they thought we could achieve it straight away.

"I think we managed to change that and although we fell away, we were bang on course.

"We are a better team this year so hopefully we achieve it."

Pearson has played his part in Wrexham emerging as one of the National League frontrunners.

Fresh from keeping a club record 22 league clean sheets in 2017-18, Wrexham have already had 16 league and cup shut-outs this season and Pearson feels he is in the best form of his career.

"I am really pleased with my form and I think I have kicked on again this year," added Pearson, who is suspended for tomorrow's home game against Eastleigh.

"I think I am playing the best football of my career, although I would like a few more goals.

"But the clean sheets are there and I am part of a good unit and really enjoying it.

"I am more than happy on and off the pitch and don't need to look elsewhere."