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Archived News from January 2005

TRANSFER NEWS/ TOM AIMS TO BE BACK BY END OF MONTH
6th January 2005 17:12


Palmer aims for transfer treble as Stags prepare for 'biggest game of the season'
CHAD website, 06 January 2005

CARLTON Palmer could be celebrating a transfer treble success as Mansfield Town prepare for what Palmer sees as their biggest game of the season so far against bottom club Cambridge United on Tuesday.
On-loan duo Fraser McLachlan and Paul Warne look to be on the verge of signing permanent deals while Palmer also has a quality left back in the pipeline who should sign an 18-month contract within the next couple of weeks.
McLachlan is having a medical this afternoon and - barring any last minute hitches - should be a full-time Stag by tomorrow.
Warne is hoping to follow suit next week and Palmer said: "Fraser is having his medical this afternoon and I have agreed a contract with him with permission from the chairman.
"I hope and pray there is no spanner in the works as Fraser has had a phone call from Stockport wanting to speak to him. But he and Chris Turner have given me their word on the deal.
"Paul Warne definitely wants to come here too and his people are speaking to Rotherham right now.
"I have also agreed a deal to bring in a left back from a club at a higher level.
"Again the chairman has agreed I can offer him an 18-month contract.
"He has played about 25 games already for them this season and is likely to be involved in their FA Cup tie this Saturday.
"All being well and no major problems, he will be allowed to join us in time for the visit of Southend United on 22nd January."
Palmer is giving his squad the day off on Saturday before they come in on Sunday and Monday for final preparations to face Cambridge.
"I believe this is our biggest game of the season so far," he said. "If we can win it we will be just one point off the play-off spots which is right where we want to be.
"But I have had Cambridge watched and I am told they are under-achievers who, if they could get a couple more players in, are good enough to stay in this division.
"I will be reiterating that to the players. Just because they are bottom of the table doesn't mean it is a foregone conclusion we will win the game.
"They are fighting for their lives, but so are we. As at Shrewsbury, if we just make sure we don't catch a cold and play like we have been doing then we can win the game."
With Saturday's scheduled home clash with Swansea City postponed due to the Swans' continued FA Cup involvement, it will be eight days between games for Mansfield.
But Palmer is happy with that and added; "The extra time will give us a few extra days to get Colin Larkin fitter and a few other players more time to recover from knocks.
"Fraser McLachlan and Alex Neil both picked up knocks on Saturday and Richie Barker broke his nose.
"So we are quite happy with the situation. I love night matches as well and I think most players do."
Rhys Day is now at Lilleshall as part of his injury recovery and he is expected back towards the end of the month along with Dave Artell, who had an ankle operation last week, and Tom Curtis, who has also undergone surgery to clean out some debris in his ankle.
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TOM AIMS FOR QUICK RETURN
Evening Post, 06 January 2005
MARK ROACH

Tom Curtis was set to undergo an operation to repair his damaged ankle today, but the Stags midfielder hopes to be back in the side before the end of the month.

He is also having treatment on a shoulder injury.

"I went to see a specialist on Monday and I've got a loose particle floating in my ankle," he said.

"It's not too serious. I've been told I should be back playing in two weeks.

"I fell on my shoulder in training before the game at Scunthorpe earlier in the season.

"It was really sore and I haven't been able to take throw-ins or jump properly. I didn't get it sorted out and it's been bothering me.

"It's known as a frozen shoulder, the ligaments and tendons tighten up and it restricts movement.

"I just thought I might as well get it sorted out when I have my ankle done."

Meanwhile, fellow midfield player Paul Warne is poised to make his loan deal at Mansfield Town a permanent move.

Warne, who is in his second month on loan from Rotherham, says he is keen to sort out a deal which will keep him at Field Mill until the end of next season.

"I've been offered an 18- month deal and I'd like to stay," he said.

"It's just a case of sorting things out with the chairman now."

Caretaker boss Carlton Palmer added: "We've put a deal to him and he's speaking to Rotherham.

"Geographically it would suit him and we're hoping to tie something up before his loan ends."

Palmer looks set to stay on in a caretaker role until the end of January at the earliest.

Palmer says he will talk to Keith Haslam about making his managerial role permanent when the Stags chairman returns from a three-week holiday in South Africa.


 

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