Archived News from July 2006
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BARKER FRUSTRATED, 5 SIGN, TRAINING FACILITIES
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BARKER FRUSTRATED OVER DEAL DELAY
Evening Post, 04 July 2006 MATT HALFPENNY Skipper Richard Barker today revealed his frustration at not yet being offered a contract extension by Mansfield. Last season's player of the year blasted 23 goals and was key to the Stags pulling away from the threat of League Two relegation. But his current deal expires next summer. And while the out-of-contract players have been sorted out with new deals, the former Rotherham striker has heard nothing. "I have spoken to the chairman and told him I would like a new contract and he said there would be one," said Barker. "But I have not received one yet and neither has my agent, so I'm not sure what is happening." Barker was signed by Carlton Palmer in November, 2004, and scored ten goals in that campaign. He became a real crowd favourite last season as he struck up a superb understanding with Simon Brown. Stags have announced four changes to their 2006-2007 fixture list - including a change in kick-off time to their home derby clash with Notts County. The game at Field Mill on Saturday, October 7, is likely to be brought forward to avoid clashing with England's friendly game with Macedonia. The Stags' game at Grimsby Town on Saturday, August 19, has been brought forward a day to Friday, August 18 (7.45pm). The visit to Wycombe listed for Saturday, September 2, will now be played on Friday, September 1 (7.45pm) while the home match against Macclesfield on Saturday, March 24, has also been brought forward a day to Friday, March 23 (7.45pm). ----------------- Shirtliff hopeful of more incoming mansfieldtown.net. 4 July 2006 With the additions of Matt Hamshaw and Johnny Mullins to the Stags' squad confidence for a successful season is starting to grow around the Field Mill camp but boss Shirtliff is still hot on the heals of more new faces. "We are in negotiations with a couple of players. It is a bit of a process and one of them has got to deal with a few personal issues before going any further but I am hopeful of making good progress by the end of the week." Said Shirtliff. Meanwhile last season's out of contract Stags have started to sign to keep them at Field Mill for a further term: Jon Olav Hjelde, Gareth Jelleyman and Chris Beardsley have all signed a one year deal as have Jason White and Callum Lloyd. Simon Brown is yet to sign his renewed terms but Shirtliff is hopeful that his signature will be forth coming. "Simon Brown has the option on his contract but he is mulling over the renewed terms of a new contract. There are no problems anticipated and I would excpect that he will be signing very shortly." Another option open to Shirtliff is to bring in a goalkeeper on loan as competition for Jason White. "I have an option of bringing a keeper in on loan for the season but at this stage I am going to see how things pan out, it's a case of watch this space." ------------ Stags back in Training mansfieldtown.net. 4 July 2006 With the Stags back in training and Boss Peter Shirtliff working hard trying to find players to bolster his team for the 2006/07 campaign the Stags' supremo is happy with the way things are progressing: "We have been back in training nearly a week a now and things are going well. Most of the lads came back fit and in good shape. They have looked after themselves over the break a little bit more than in my day! "It's a gradual process with the fitness testing and weigh ins during the early part of the week with today being the first day that the footballs come out." Last season's worries about training facilities look as though they could be in the past with Mansfield Rugby Club allowing Peter Shirtliff and his team to use their facilities from time to time. "We will be training today at the Rugby Club who have kindly offered to let us use their Rubber Crumb service which has a nice give to it under foot. With the hot weather the ground is hard so this will make a nice alternative. We will do some running then a session with the footballs this afternoon. "The last thing we want at this stage is for a player to pick up an injury in training so I was delighted when the Rugby club came through for us." Other places have also agreed to let Shirtliff's men use their various training facilities alleviating the earlier fears that we would be struggling to find suitable areas to train this season. |
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