Shirtliff said that he expects the player to sign a contract before the end of the week and said; "I am chuffed to bits he has agreed to come and will be even more chuffed when he has actually signed.
"He is a player I have been looking to sign all summer and there were 12 clubs after him.
"But I have managed to persuade him to come to Mansfield."
The Stags returned for pre-season training today ahead of the 2006-07 campaign, and Shirtliff is looking ahead to his first full season in charge "I am looking forward to pre-season," he told the Mansfield Chad website
"The first day will just be acclimatising, getting kit sorted and getting everyone moving.
"This will be an introductory week and they will get the weekend off. We will just start work on some base fitness and I will be explaining what I am looking for.
"They have all come back in decent shape - it's not like it used to be. Players look after themselves much better now.
"I am not making any predictions this season other than wanting to see us improve.
"Shrewsbury way is a tough one to start with. But we are getting to play on that pitch as a good time of season and gave a good account of ourselves there last season and were unlucky not to win."