{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from May 2002

MORE ON PROCTOR, SCOTT AND MOORE
10th May 2002 12:56


WATKISS SAYS DEAL FOR PROCTOR IS 'VERY UNLIKELY'
Evening Post, 10 May 2002
MANSFIELD look unlikely to sign Sunderland striker Michael Proctor, as a result of the ITV Digital debacle.
Manager Stuart Watkiss believes he will be unable to sign any players who would command a fee unless something can be done to pay the Stags previously agreed money.
Mansfield tried to sign the player on transfer deadline day, when a £175,000 deal was rejected by Black Cats boss Peter Reid.
Proctor, who was on loan for the season at York City and scored against Stags last month, is out of contract at the Stadium of Light this summer.
But, because he is only 21, Sunderland would be entitled to compensation as he is not old enough to move freely under the Bosman ruling.
That appears to be the stumbling block at the moment as Stags have lost out on about £120,000 as a result of ITV Digital's collapse.
Watkiss said: "We will just have to wait and see but it looks like we will not be able to find a fee for anybody at the moment.
"The thing with Michael is that we would need to pay compensation through a tribunal and we don't know how much that would be."
However, with Chris Greenacre's future still unclear and Shayne Bradley being put on the transfer list, a striker is still his priority after bringing in two players this week.
Central defenders Dion Scott and Neil Moore joined from Walsall and Telford respectively on Wednesday.
Watkiss said: "I'm delighted to have got two players on board and they are the first two pieces of the jigsaw.
"But I will be looking for a striker and probably another midfielder.
"I have got people in mind but we will have to see how they compare to people who are going to be on the PFA list when that comes out at the beginning of next month.
"But at the moment, we have space for a couple more players and then others will have to leave."
Watkiss is disappointed about the financial restraints but recognises there are other people who are in worse positions.
He said; "I know that the ITV Digital problems will not threaten the club's existance, which is not the case at some other places, but it is going to have a massive bearing on who I will be able to bring in for next season.
"At the moment, no-one is quite sure what the market is going to be like this summer and it is going to be interesting to see what is going to happen.
"All I know is that it is not the chairman's fault we are in this situation and we all have to get on with it."

Scott looks for fresh start
Teamtalk, 10 May 2002
Dion Scott is hoping to kick-start his career at Stags after signing a one-year deal at Field Mill this week.
The 21-year-old central defender found his first-team chances limited at Walsall and is looking forward to a fresh challenge.
He said: "I had quite a hard time there and I am looking forward to this new challenge now.
"I was at Walsall right from being an apprentice. But it was difficult to get in the first team, even when we had a change of manager.
"They didn't want to chance it putting a youngster in when we were going for promotion or fighting relegation and we did both since I signed professional!"
"All I want is the opportunity to play first-team football and the fans will see I always give 100 per cent and I am a willing competitor."

Moore grateful of chance
Teamtalk, 10 May 2002
Neil Moore admits he is grateful to be back in league football at the start of a summer where many players will find themselves out in the cold.
The 29-year-old defender enjoyed his two-and-a-half years in full-time Conference football at Telford United but was quick to accept Town's two-year deal to return to the Second Division.
The new signing said: "I am getting my career back on track and I am very grateful for the chance.
"I have spent six months on the dole before Telford so I know how it feels and it's not nice.
"I could have ended up drifting out of football but I decided I was too young and so I stuck at it. Those footballers who show the right mental attitude this summer are the ones that will bounce back.
"People who say it is a big step up for me to play in the Second Division must remember I have played there before and it was a big step down for me to go to the Conference at the time.
"I am confident I can do a good job for Mansfield at this level and my first aim is to make sure I am in the team when the season kicks off on 10th August," added Moore.

 

Latest | May 2002