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Archived News from April 2006

COKE REFUSES NEW CONTRACT / SHIRTLIFF INTERVIEW
6th April 2006 18:19


Coke rejects new deal at Field Mill
CHAD WEBSITE, 06 April 2006

PROMISING teenage midfielder Giles Coke has rejected the offer of a new two-year deal at Mansfield Town.
But Stags boss Peter Shirtliff has not given up hopes of keeping the 19-year-old playmaker at Field Mill.
Already there have been suggestions Coke, who signed for Stags from non-League Kingstonian last season, could be off somewhere like Premiership-bound Reading or Wolves.
But Shirtliff said: "Giles has turned down a two-year deal we have offered him, which is his prerogative, and that's how it stand at the moment.
"We are still talking and we are still hopeful. It is not dead and buried.
"But he will obviously be getting advice from his agent.
"That's the game these days. And some of the speculation about him is unbelievable and nonsense.
"Agents get involved and spread rumours. Then the press get involved and it all snowballs.
"Giles was a good signing by Carlton. We have been good for his game and he has been good for us.
"I have given him a run in the team and he has done well. But he still has a way to go yet.
"He is out of contract this summer. But we do have an option on him and he is under 24 so there would be compensation involved if he left.
"This is an important part of the season and I don't know why it couldn't wait until the end."
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Shirtliff waits on injured four
CHAD WEBSITE, 06 April 2006

PETER Shirtliff is hopeful he will have four injured players back in his squad as Stags seek to end their recent poor results against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank this Saturday (3pm).
And the Mansfield Town boss has said he believes his side need to win five of their last six games to stand a chance of making the end-of-season Play-offs.
Rhys Day, Gareth Jelleyman, Simon Brown and Allan Russell are all on the mend.
Day (dead leg) and Russell (recovering from broken toe) both played in the midweek reserve friendly win at Derby County's training ground and look almost certain to make the squad.
Brown has done a little work this week after aggravating his hernia while Jelleyman is still resting up his knee injury. But it is hoped both will be able to train properly tomorrow and then face fitness tests with Brown having the better chance.
Stags have not beaten 'neighbours' Lincoln since 12th February 2002, drawing two and losing three of their clashes since then.
The Imps' direct, physical game seems to have been the deciding factor in most of those results.
But five points off the Play-offs with only six games left, Shirtliff said; "It is a tall order to make the Play-offs now, but it's not without possibility.
"Saturday is pretty much a must-win with five points to make up and one of the sides above us having a game in hand on us.
"We need to win at least five of the last six games.
"We know how tough it will be at Lincoln But we have only lost once in the last 10 and won three out the last four so we are going there in a positive frame of mind.
"We will be going there for a win as we do in every game.
"I hope the lads will go out there and play their football without getting too uptight about situations.
"Our away record is something we need to address, particularly in terms of goals conceded."
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Coke refuses new contract
mansfieldtown.net, 6 April 2006

Nineteen year old midfield star Giles Coke has turned down a new contract at Field Mill this week and has been linked with newly promoted side Reading but Stags boss Peter Shirtliff insists talks are ongoing and the deal to keep the player here is not dead in the water.

The new contract offered to Giles was a two year deal but the youngster declined the offer to look elsewhere and this week rumours were abound about a move to Madejski Stadium.

"Giles refused a renewed contract that would have kept him here for two more years and rumour has it he has been speaking to Reading and Wolves. We will continue with him and try and keep at the club. But obviously he will be taking advice form his agent but it is not dead and buried just yet.

"The game today is such that speculation about a player and who is looking at him is rife. In Giles' case he is a nineteen year old who has played forty odd professional games and he is suddenly going to Reading a club that has just won promotion to the premiership. I am sure that if Reading have had their scouts look at him they would have been looking at many other players as well.

"The upside to this situation is it is a good reflection on Mansfield Town. He was a good signing made by Carlton and he has done well in his time here. I think that I have been good his game and he has been good for the club and if the big clubs are interested in him then we have been doing something right here"

due to Coke's age and the fact that a new contract has been offered will mean that should Giles decide to make the move to another club rather than strike a deal at Stags Mansfield Town would be eligible for a compensation payment similar to the Liam Lawrence transfer.


'Play-Offs, a Tall Order'
mansfieldtown.net, 6 April 2006

Peter Shirtliff has shrugged off talk of a play off place in the past but with his team only five points adrift and six games left he does admit that it is a possibility. However it is still a tall order and we shouldn't build our hopes up:

"The play-offs are a tall order but it is not beyond the realms of possibility although I believe we would have to win at least 5 of the 6 remaining games to make it a reality. A win at Lincoln would bring us closer to it but we must remember our remaining games are against some of the contenders for the places so every win for us is chipping away at them giving the fringe teams such as Darlington a greater chance.

"It would be great to reach the play-offs but I wouldn't get my hopes up. The main aim is to finish as high up the table and with as many points as possible" he said


Stags Prepare for Lincoln trip
mansfieldtown.net, 6 April 2006

The Stags are preparing for their weekend trip to Lincoln City, a team that has been somewhat of a bogey side for us in recent times.

Keith Alexander's Lincoln Side style of football is different to the way the Stags like to play but Shirtliff will be preparing for this game in much the same way as any other game and we will be going into the game in a positive frame of mind with the knowledge that his team are in good form at the moment losing only one game in nine, wining three out of the last four.

"Lincoln can play how they want, we are currently in good form with a good run, losing only one game in nine and having three wins out of four. So it is up to us to combat they way they choose to play and carry on with our current run" he said.

A late fitness test on Gareth Jelleyman will determine whether he will be able to play a part in the game and Rhys Day should also be in contention.


Stags Reserves slam Rams
mansfieldtown.net, 6 April 2006

Peter Shirtliff was delighted at the performance of his reserve team away at Derby earlier in the week. Playing a good team including the likes of Seth Johnston the young Stags came away with a well deserved 3-1 victory. But more importantly it was a good opportunity for the injured players to have a good competitive work out.

"I was pleased with the performance of the lads but these games are about more than the end result it is to get players that do not figure on a regular basis some competitive football and to bring the injured players back to match fitness. Allan Russell played an hour and had a good game coming through it with no ill effect" he told the official website.

Other players who featured were Rhys Day and Gareth Jelleyman who both came through the game without any adverse reactions and along with Simon Brown both will be back in training tomorrow (Friday). Early indications are showing that Jelleyman, if not Day could be in contention for Saturday's trip to Lincoln City's Sincil Bank ground.


IT'S ALL TO PLAY FOR, SAYS JAKE
Evening Post, 06 April 2006
MATT HALFPENNY

Jake Buxton would love to see Mansfield put themselves in the play-off reckoning on the final day of the season - even if it is only an outside chance.

The Stags are now five points off seventh place with six games to go but have lost just once in their last ten games.

Now the right-back is hoping he and his team-mates can make things interesting for the Cheltenham game on May 6 by putting themselves in contention.

"We are not just happy with a top half finish now, we just want to try to nick a place in the play-offs," said Buxton.

"It would just be great to go to the last game with something still to play for, even if we had to win and two or three other teams had to lose.

"With us all but safe now, the pressure is off us and we can just go out and play. The pressure is all on the teams above us."

Mansfield still have to play Lincoln - who they visit on Saturday - Leyton Orient, Carlisle

and Cheltenham , who are all above them in the League Two table.

And Buxton knows results against those sides will be crucial if they are to stand any chance of a late charge.

He said: "If it does start to get tight, then they are going to start looking over their shoulders if we can keep winning.

"If we win the games against the teams around us then we are obviously stopping them picking up points too. We will try to grind them down."

"Not everyone can keep winning above us because teams play each other, so we will try to take advantage of any slip-ups."

Mansfield beat Oxford 1-0 at Field Mill on Saturday - their third home victory and clean sheet in a row.

Buxton feels that is where the team play their best football and reckons that is down to the type of players in the Mansfield squad.

"Apart from Jonathan D'Laryea and the back four, all the other players want to go forward and score goals - that is their instinct.

"I think that means a lot of players are more comfortable playing at home and having to take the initiative suits us.

"In my opinion, we carry a lot more of a goal threat than we did at the start of the season. The ethic now is if we score three, then they have to score four to beat us. Under Carlton Palmer we were more of a defensive side."

 

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