The former Quarrendon School pupil, who still has friends and family in Aylesbury, has been negotiating new terms with the Latics over the summer and hopes to put pen to paper once the club return from their Austrian training camp.

Although the former Luton and Crystal Palace defender still had two years left to run on his current deal, he is reported to be rewarded for a number of assured displays and form which earned him the club's player of the year award in his first season.

The Barbados international still holds athletics records at his former school in Aylesbury and is one of four pro players from the Vale currently plying their trade in the top two divisions of the English game.

Boyce said this week: "Hopefully we can get everything sorted out sooner rather than later. We are close. Maybe we can get it done when we come back from Austria, certainly before the season starts.

"I have two years left on this contract but it's nice to start negotiating early so that I know where my future is. It has been a two-way thing - the club approached me about a new contract as a reward for the way I have been performing.

"And I was only too happy to negotiate an improved deal because I want to help this club move forward.

"We finished last season strongly and the aim this time has to be to push further up the table and finish as high as we can."