Archived News from September 2003
|
EVENING POST PREVIEW
|
 |
|
STAGS SET TO SIGN PAIR
Evening Post, 12 September 2003 Keith Curle has received a massive boost ahead of tomorrow's clash with Division Three table-toppers Oxford United. The Mansfield Town manager has been given the green light to sign central defenders Luke Dimech and Dave Artell by Stags chairman Keith Haslam. And Curle believes the players have just the qualities to push the Stags back into Division Two at the first attempt. Dimech has been missing recently following a knee injury and his last game was the 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient last month, when he scored. Artell has also been on the mark, most recently with the opener in Saturday's 3-2 win over Macclesfield. Curle is hopeful of getting the players to commit to the club for a year and maybe longer if the club can get promoted. He said: "Both players know the financial situation at the club and we are now in the final stages of closing the year deal with the possibility of an extension subject to promotion. "This is absolutely brilliant news for me, the fans and the team, as I know that both these players are capable of helping us achieve promotion." Dimech will not be considered for the clash at the Kassam Stadium. He is recovering from a torn cartilage. Curle's selection dilemma surrounds the strikers with Iyseden Christie serving the first match of a three-game suspension following his red card at Swansea. With Andy White off to Boston and Colin Larkin struggling with a hamstring injury, Curle could pick one of his young strikers, Chris Beardsley or Craig Mitchell, or play Liam Lawrence alongside Junior Mendes. Lee Williamson is suspended following his dismissal at the Vetch Field and will be having a cartilage operation after waking with a locked knee on Tuesday. Tom Curtis is expected to deputise alongside Neil MacKenzie. MANSFIELD (from): Pilkington, Hassell, Day, Artell, Vaughan, Lawrence, Curtis, MacKenzie, Corden, Mendes, Beardsley, J White, Disley, John-Baptiste, Mitchell, Clarke. CURLE SENDS STRIKER ON LOAN Evening Post, 12 September 2003 Mansfield Town striker Andy White has joined Division Three rivals Boston United on a month's loan. White, who had a trial at Bristol Rovers this summer, has been unable to force his way into the picture at Field Mill this season as Junior Mendes and Iyseden Christie have formed a dangerous partnership. Manager Keith Curle said it was up to White to boost his match fitness to reach the levels he wanted to push for a place in the Stags' first-team. Curle said: "Andy knows that the door hasn't closed at this club. "The one-month loan is just to get his match sharpness back and bring his game up to the tempo that we are now playing. "It will be an opportunity for him to play against the teams we are going to be playing against and it should be a good chance for him." White scored both goals in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Chesterfield reserves earlier this week. He has scored 11 goals in 64 appearances for the Stags and had a month on loan at Crewe last season. |
Latest | September 2003