Archived News from December 2006
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REET HOPES A WINNING RUN HELPS HOLLAND
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REET HOPES A WINNING RUN HELPS HOLLAND
Evening Post, 23 December 2006 Danny Reet hopes caretaker boss Paul Holland lands the Mansfield job on a permanent basis - because that means the team will be winning games. The Stags' run of just one victory in their past eight matches led to the sacking of boss Peter Shirtliff earlier this week. But striker Reet is keen for the Stags to get back to winning ways over the busy Christmas period, especially after last night's game against Chester was called off due to a frozen Field Mill pitch. And he knows if the Stags do post some favourable results, then Holland will be a strong candidate to land the manager's job full-time. "It is a good chance for Dutch (Holland) to push for the job and it would be nice to see him do well," said Reet. "If he is in with a shout of being permanent manager, that will be better for us because it means we will be doing well and propelling ourselves up the league." Reet has found himself confined to the bench for recent matches, despite seven goals early in the season. But he knows he has a fresh chance to stake a claim for a first-team spot, under Holland and then any future new manager. He said: "Everyone, from the people who are not in the squad at all, to those who are in the first team week in, week out, are effectively on trial. "It could be that there are three different teams in the next three games, no one knows who is going to be in the side now. "It is potentially a good thing for the club because everyone will be fighting hard for their places. "And if a new boss does eventually come in, he might think differently again." Reet admits that Shirtliff's departure was the first time he had seen a manager leave at such close quarters. "I was at Sheffield Wednesday in the reserve and youth teams when Chris Turner left and Paul Sturrock took over, and when Chris came in to tell the lads, he was quite upset," he said. "But this is the first I have seen it as a first-team player, and it has been a difficult week. "You do wonder who is coming in, but you just have to get on with it and now we have to prepare for the Christmas games." DEBUT DELAY FOR HOLLAND Next Story | Previous Story | Back to list 12:00 - 23 December 2006 Caretaker boss Paul Holland will have to wait until Boxing Day at least for his first game in charge after last night's home clash with Chester City was postponed. The match was called off at 11.45am yesterday following an inspection of Field Mill by local referee Russell Booth. The club also had health and safety concerns because of frost and ice on some of the steps in the stands. Holland will now hope to lead his troops for the first time in an away clash at Darlington on Tuesday. But the cold snap could also put that match in jeopardy. "It was definitely the right decision to call of the Chester game. I went out there on the pitch with the referee and there is no way it could have been played," said Holland. "I'm absolutely gutted because we have built ourselves up all week and we have been looking forward to it." "It leaves you a bit flat to be honest, but it is a matter of picking ourselves up for Boxing Day now. "It could be that game is off too and the situation is tough on the players mentally, but this is what you have to cope with as a professional at this time of year." Head groundsman Michael Merriman said of the Chester postponement: "The match has been in doubt for the last three or four days since it started freezing on Tuesday. "Even where the sun has been on it, it is still rock hard and so obviously there is no way it can be played on." The Stags will train today and tomorrow. Holland said: "It has been quite difficult to find a training place in this weather, but I have managed to book somewhere in Derby.""It leaves you a bit flat to be honest, but it is a matter of picking ourselves up for Boxing Day now. "It could be that game is off too and the situation is tough on the players mentally, but this is what you have to cope with as a professional at this time of year." Head groundsman Michael Merriman said of the Chester postponement: "The match has been in doubt for the last three or four days since it started freezing on Tuesday. "Even where the sun has been on it, it is still rock hard and so obviously there is no way it can be played on." |
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