Archived News from January 2006
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HASLAM INTERVIEW
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MONEY IS THERE FOR RIGHT PLAYER
Evening Post, 12 January 2006 Stags chairman Keith Haslam today revealed he will make money available for boss Peter Shirtliff to spend - but not a massive amount. Mansfield will collect a cash windfall - thought to be in the region of £350,000 - for their exploits in the FA Cup. The club were given £75,000 by Sky television for screening their second round tie with Grays Athletic. They have also picked up prize money of £14,000 for beating Rotherham 4-3 in the first round and £26,000 for the 3-0 victory over Grays. Those sums total just short of £100,000 and, together with the gate receipts from the third round game at Newcastle that have still to be confirmed, make up a tidy extra sum of income. Haslam confirmed some of that money will be available to Shirtliff in the January transfer window, but would not indicate precisely how much. "There is always money available for Peter if the right player comes along," said Haslam. "Peter has already been in for a Championship striker this week who will cost a fee, so we're hoping that comes to fruition. "We have to look for the right players and it is not always easy to bring in players at this time of year. "Everyone wants experienced players, even if they only have four or five months left on their contracts. "Transfer windows make it even harder for teams because they are not used to dealing with them. "I would not expect a high amount of activity from us in the transfer market but if the player we are after does come off, we will be one of only a few clubs who have been able to afford a transfer fee." Haslam said the remainder of the extra revenue from the cup run would help balance the club's books after a drop in attendance figures and commercial income. "We will have to use some of the money to stabilise the club financially because we would have made a loss this season," he said. "There are two reasons why you don't meet your budget - if you spend too much on players or if you aren't getting the gates and commercial income you expected. "The latter of those has proved a problem for us this season, but this will mean that we aren't going to get into any financial trouble." Haslam was delighted by Mansfield's showing at Newcastle where they were only denied a replay by a late Alan Shearer goal. Now he hopes the club can build on the good start made under the guidance of Shirtliff by pulling clear of relegation and securing a mid-table position at the end of the season. Haslam said: "I have been here 12 or 13 years and that is one of the biggest games we have been involved in and the team did themselves proud. "They were magnificent. They had a taste of playing at the higher level and showed that they can compete in that environment. "The key for us is to maintain the consistency we have started to show since Peter took over. "We have started to improve our results, but so have those around us. "It means there are a lot of clubs down there fighting for their lives. "The good thing is that there are some talented young players here that remind me of the successful side we had here two or three years ago. "I think we are heading in the right direction with the likes of your Cokes, Baptistes, Rundles and Buxtons. "Its also important to balance it with experience and I think players like Barker, Jelleyman and Pressman are doing a good job in that respect. "Hopefully we will get the right results to pull us away from the bottom and up to halfway. "If we go really well, there is also a faint hope of the play-offs, but safety is the first aim." |
Latest | January 2006