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Archived News from June 2002

TANKARD / TRANSFER NEWS
12th June 2002 20:49


TANKARD CLOSE TO NEW DEAL
Evening Post, 12 June 2002

MANSFIELD defender Allen Tankard has verbally agreed to sign the one-year contract Stuart Watkiss offered him at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old left back was a commanding influence in the later stages of the Stags' promotion-winning campaign and also scored late winners at Darlington and Macclesfield to ensure Mansfield a place in Division Two.

He was acquired on a free transfer by former Stags boss Billy Dearden a year ago, and Watkiss is delighted he has agreed to stay on at ield Mill.

He said: "Tanks has agreed to stay and hopefully we will get him signed in the next few days.

"He proved, particularly in the last three or four games of the season, just what a valuable player he is to us.

"To get him back on board is a great boost and he is another piece of the jigsaw for next season."

However, Watkiss insisted there would be no players coming into the club in the next couple of weeks.

The club has been linked with Bristol City' s former Grimsby defender Mark Lever, who is understood to want a move back north, and midfielder Phil Trainer, who has been released by Crewe.

However, Watkiss said players would have to leave before he could bring another defender into the side after Neil Moore was captured on a free transfer from Telford United and Dion Scott brought to the club after being released by Walsall.

Club captain Les Robinson was told he could leave the club on a free transfer, despite having another year left on his contract.

Watkiss said: "Mark Lever is certainly a player we are interested in but he is one of a number of players we are keeping an eye on and I won't be bringing in another defender until others leave.

"Phil is a player I know about and we had him here in the youth team until he was offered a contract at Crewe.

"If he doesn't get sorted out, he might join us for pre-season, but nothing has been arranged at the moment."

Meanwhile, former Stags striker Michael Boulding has been offered a trial with Premiership Middlesbrough.

Boulding left Field Mill on a free transfer to Grimsby after failing to earn a regular place in the Stags starting line-up in May 2000 behind Shayne Bradley and Chris Greenacre.

He is out of contract at the end of the month and was the surprise success story at Blundell Park last season, as he weighed in with 11 important goals which helped the Mariners steer clear of relegation.

The 26-year-old learned his trade as a trainee with Manchester United.

A former professional tennis player, he has also been linked with West Ham, Leicester and Sheffield United - but it is Steve McClaren who has given Boulding a first opportunity to shine at a higher level.

 

Latest | June 2002