Having joined initially on a short term deal in October, Tonge says that he was always hoping to extend his stay.
“Delighted. My old one came to an end yesterday so I was just keen to get it sorted and keep playing football really.
“I have really enjoyed it from the first day I came here so I just want to continue to try and help the team and play as many games as I can. Hopefully we can start on Saturday by getting a win and start getting back to winning some football matches and getting some points on the board.”
Tonge’s deal will keep him at the club until the end of the 2016/2017 season and he says that having that stability was paramount to him.
“It is important for me at the minute because I have had a 6 months where I don’t really know where I am at. It is great to sign for 18 months so I know I have got a bit of a home here now and I can try and hopefully kick on and put in some good performances.”
Although Tonge admits that the season hasn’t gone to plan so far, he says that everyone is still confident and determined to put things right.
“There have been ups and downs. We had a really good, positive run before Christmas and since we have faltered a little bit. We have got to try and pick ourselves up and start getting back to what we were doing then and start winning some football matches. Everybody is aware of that and trying to do their utmost to get the results on the pitch.
“I am looking forward to getting out there and putting it right. I know we are not a million miles off – we showed that before Christmas but it is just getting that consistency in our game. Sometimes it comes down to the little fine details in games where if you aren’t quite at it or not quite right, you get caught out.”
This Saturday’s game against Barnet is set to be a fiery local derby and Tonge says that the team will need the fans who have been excellent all season.
“They have been behind the team every game we have had at home to be honest and the lads recognise that, definitely.
“We will need them again on Saturday, it is a big local derby and it will be a blood and thunder game if you like, probably quite direct so we will need them to push us on and when you are struggling, that is when you need the fans the most.
“It is massive. I think everybody is aware of that and we have got to go out there and really put a performance, try and get a result and give everybody a lift.”