WHILE this month has seen a few players use the exit door, Lee Bell has no intention of leaving the Moss Rose right now.

Still in his first season at Macc, the former Mansfield Town midfielder says he’s really enjoying life as a Silkman.

As well as helping the team push on towards the end of the season, Bell is aiming to continue what he’s started at Macc.

"I didn’t get off to the best of starts form-wise," admitted Bell, who turns 26 on Monday. "But I’ve settled in well and picked up my form and, even though I’m contracted until the end of this season, I’m hoping to stay a lot longer than that.

"It’s close to home [Bell lives in Kidsgrove] and it’s a great club to be at, so I’m happy here right now."

Injury limited Bell’s appearances for Mansfield last season and, after undergoing an operation on his left knee, then saw his career halted by his medial ligament in the right knee.

In fact, many Stags fans point to Bell’s absence as a defining reason why they failed to avoid the drop to the Blue Square Premier, many believing that, had he been available, they would have stayed up.

"It’s nice to know people think something like that of you," Bell admitted.

"It was a real shame that we went down. We had a really good bunch of players, and I think all but a couple have been snapped up by league clubs since then, so we had the players, it’s just a pity we couldn’t get it together."

Of the current crop of team-mates, Bell admits that the expected loss of Terry Dunfield will be a blow but, with the players at the club, there is still room for optimism at Macc.

"Me and Terry formed a good partnership," he added. "I think we complement each other well, we hit it off together. If he does go, it’ll be a good move for him, he’s done what he can here and been a good player for Macc.

"Nat Brown has come in and done well too, he’s got a few goals and he’s looked impressive and Jamie Tolley offers a lot going forward, probably more than me, so there’s still a lot of competition for us all."

Bell has been a model of consistency as he found his feet with Macc, but he will sit out Saturday’s clash with Brentford, as he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the draw at Aldershot.

He admits to not being a good watcher but he’ll be itching to get back in the team to face Wycombe on Tuesday. "We’ve got tough games coming up," he said. "I’ve had to work to get back in before. If we can hit some form and put a few results together, you never know."