Archived News from February 2005
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CORDEN SHOWN DOOR
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Corden shown door, but Larkin stays for now
CHAD, 08 February 2005 IT would appear winger Wayne Corden has played his last game for Mansfield Town. But, as Stags prepare for Saturday's visit of play-off chasing Cheltenham Town (3pm), striker Colin Larkin, still top scorer with eight goals, is now hoping to fight his way back into the first team picture. Caretaker-manager Carlton Palmer had been disappointed with both players' recent contributions and had told both they could leave on free transfers. Corden turned down a move to Conference high-fliers Carlisle United last week which disappointed Palmer. But Larkin, who hasn't scored in 11 starts and three substitute appearancs since he netted against Notts County on 16th October, had clear-the-air talks with Palmer on Monday morning and earned himself another chance. "Colin came to see me on and said he wants to be part of what we are doing here and asked me for the opportunity," said Palmer. "I told him what I expect and I am a fair man so he is back in the fold and we will take it from there. "He has a chance now to do the things I need him to do. "He is big enough to accept he's not been doing it, his fitness level is not what it should be and he is prepared to put in the extra work and time, so that's fine by me. "He has the chance to prove to me that he's the man that should be leading the attack at Mansfield. "He's got to show me and everyone else here that he has the desire." However, there would appear little chance of a reconcilliation with Corden. Palmer has already offered the long-serving winger, who has played over 200 times for the club, a pay-off settlement. But Palmer said; "He will not accept it but I am not budging on it. "He is owed no more bonuses or signing-on fees and it is a fair and reasonable offer. "I will not pay the money his agent is asking for. "His agent says five or six clubs are interested in Wayne but only two have rung me. "Carlisle offered him a good deal until the end of next season. But he turned it down which disappointed me. "He is not in my first team plans here and I would have thought he would have wanted to get back to playing football. "Kidderminster are the only other side interested but they can't afford him." He added: "The problem is that players sometimes lose their desire and it takes a move to regain it. "It's not a deliberate thing. It's a sub-concious thing. But there is no doubt Wayne has ability and it would not surprise me one bit to hear he's doing well for his next club. "He needs to go somewhere to prove himself again. "In the meantime he will just have to do whatever we ask of him here. I think this will be resolved very soon." |
Latest | February 2005