Paul Hayes believes he has nothing to prove after being awarded a new two-year contract by Wycombe Wanderers.

The Chairboys skipper endured a trying 2015/16 campaign as injury and poor form led to him finding the net just five times in all competitions.

Despite the poor goal return, Hayes was given the longest extension of any of the players kept on by Gareth Ainsworth earlier this month.

The 32-year-old feels the deal was a fair reflection of his value to the side and insists his role in the Wanderers changing room is multifaceted.

“I don’t think I have to justify the contract, it is more about loyalty from both me and the club. I am very happy and would like to stay here as long as physically possible,” Hayes explained.

“I am not just at this club to score goals and get the fame as most forwards do. I have completely changed my game and my mind-set as a captain.

“I need to be around the changing room to motivate people, excite people and maybe tell people off if they need to be. It is an all-round thing for me as I am getting older.”

While Hayes is right to suggest his role at Wycombe is about more than his on-field form – he is a well-liked and highly supportive figure at the club – he will ultimately be judged on his performances.

He is frank in his appraisal of a season which never got going and feels that the manner in which the Blues’ campaign concluded – eight games in a row without a win – will provide the whole squad with motivation.

“Last season was a kick up the arse for me and the [other] players,” Hayes says.

“I think the coaching staff and the managers have always tried to do their best for the players and unfortunately it think it has been the players who let people down.

“The last couple of months wasn’t great at all, but people forget what happened the season before. All I can do is produce and do well on and off the field.”

It would be premature to dismiss a player who has scored over 100 career goals and Hayes’ return last season must be considered alongside multiple injury lay-offs.

Most of September was lost to an Achilles problem which never truly healed and left Hayes playing with pain for the majority of the campaign.

He therefore views this summer as a hugely important period and wants to come back as fit as possible for the start of next season.

“I think it is imperative [to get a pre-season]. It is one of the biggest things in football when you ask any player,” he explained.

“I am looking forward to pre-season because last year I couldn’t do anything and it was purely rest, so four and a half weeks of doing nothing. I am already running and I am not giving myself two weeks off.”