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Archived News from March 2008

6 (SIX) PLAYERS OUT, 0 (NOT ONE) IN
30th March 2008 19:13


NO new players for Stags on deadline day
CHAD.co.uk, 27Mar08, by Tim Morriss

DEALS to bring two new players to Mansfield Town on loan deadline day have fallen through at the last minute - on a day when six players left the club.
One of the prospective new players Nicky Law (19) was injured in training on Thursday morning, while manager Paul Holland's deal for the other - David Graham - failed to be completed when the Stags could not contact the player.

Graham (29), at League One Gillingham, had suggested he would be willing to come to the Stags, while Law is at Sheffield United and played against the Stags for Bradford in December.

Then, late in the afternoon, a bid to bringa Championship player to Mansfield Town also fell through.

Full story http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/NO-new-players-for-Stags.3923312.jp

Earlier in the day Holland released five players - and also saw loan player Will Atkinson recalled by Hull City.

But after paying up the contracts of John McAliskey, Martin McIntosh and Danny Reet; and loaning out Danny Sleath and Ian Holmes, Holland was then frustrated not to sign two transfer targets.

Earlier in the day he had told Chad: "I think it is vitally important I bring in a couple of fresh faces which will liven the place up."

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Holmes/ McIntosh/ Sleath out as 6 players leave Stags on deadline day
CHAD.co.uk, 27Mar08, by Tim Morriss
yOUNG Midfielder Danny Sleath became the sixth player to leave Field Mill on Thursday - departing this afternoon.
He followed John McAliskey, Danny Reet, and Will Atkinson out of the club on a dramatic loan deadline day at Field Mill - and was joined on his way out by defender Martin McIntosh and striker Ian Holmes.
Sleath has joined Gainsborough Trinity on loan until the end of the season - after originally agreeing to go to Matlock.

FULL STORY http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Holmes-McIntosh-Sleath-out-as.3921636.jp

The 21-year-old has made three starts and seven substitute appearances for us this season, but has been left out of the squad recently.

The midfielder had a spell on loan at Boston United earlier in the season

Busy manager Paul Holland told mansfieldtown.net: "It's a shame that we are having to send players out on loan, but we don't have a reserve league, and these players are short on match fitness.

"We will be keeping a close eye on Danny's progress," added Paul.

Holmes (22), who joined the Stags from Matlock at the start of the season and has not figured in the first team recently, has gone to Telford until the end of the season.

He has scored three goals in three starts and 13 substitute appearances.

Manager Paul Holland said: "Ian is not in my first team plans for the rest of the season . . . he needs to get games under bis belt. He came to me requesting a loan move."

McIntosh (37) has failed to recover from a long standing hamstring injury and lade just 10 starts for the Stags, scoring one goal.

He joined in the summer from Huddersfield at the same time as striker John McAliskey, who was shown the door earlier in the day.

Like McAliskey and Reet, the defender's contract is being paid up.

Holland is still confident that two new players will arrive at Field Mill later on Thursday to strengthen the squad for the relegation battle.

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Busy day ahead for 'Dutch'
CHAD.co.uk, 27Mar08, by Tim Morriss
A BUSY transfer deadline day at Field Mill began with three players departing, possibly two more going out later, and two new faces lined up to come in.
Paul Holland, named Mansfield Town manager for the rest of the season on Tuesday, has lost Will Atkinson who was recalled by Hull City at the end of his second month on loan.

He has also decided to pay up the contracts of strikers Danny Reet and John McAliskey who had fallen well down the pecking order of getting a game.

Full story http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Busy-day-ahead-for-39Dutch39.3920847.jp

But Holland is hoping to unveil two exciting new signings this afternoon if they can be completed.

"It's going to be a very busy day and I was on the phone all afternoon yesterday," said Holland.

"It really is a baptism of fire. There is no six weeks pre-season to bed yourself in. But I am enjoying it.

"I am getting players out and bringing players in and being positive. It is no use hanging about and then saying 'what if'. I have made quick decisions on certain individuals.

"With paying up these players they become free agents and can maybe fix themselves up quicker while it saves our club money over the course of the close season.

"I have been in the situation myself in the past where I was told I didn't figure in plans and could stay and fight for my place or go out elsewhere and play football.

"I was the type of person who wanted to go and play football and if I have players here who are not playing football they are no good to me, so if they have got anything about them they will want to go and play football somewhere else.

"Danny and John have had their contracts paid up and there might be a couple more going out later - both of them have two or three clubs interested in them.

"I am not frightened to make hard decisions or upset people and maybe it will put others on their toes."

However, he added: "I didn't want to lose Will Atkinson and he did not want to leave us – he has enjoyed his time here.

"He was still eligible to play against Notts County on Saturday but, after I decided to leave him out at Bury on Monday, Hull rang me to say they didn't want to risk one of their first team squad getting injured in our reserves and, having had good reports about him while playing for us, they wanted to take him back and have a closer look at him in their reserves.

"I think Will was a credit to himself and Hull City and I would be extremely keen to bring him back here in the future."

Holland is this afternoon hoping to complete the loan signings of two new players for the weekend before the big relegation crunch game at local rivals Notts County.

"It is a massive game and we are looking forward to it," said Holland.

"We have three very important matches coming up, none more so than Saturday. If we can come out of those with six, seven or even nine points then things could be very different and I am very confident and positive that we can.

"The lads let themselves down on Monday and have been told that in no uncertain terms. The pleasing thing was that they agreed. So I think our supporters will see a different Mansfield Town on Saturday. I will definitely get a reaction.

"It is my career in the balance right now as well as the players. I will be judged between now and the end of the season and I want to make a good fist of it. I will give it my best shot and I believe my best will be good enough.

"I think it is vitally important I bring in a couple of fresh faces which will liven the place up. And if you get players coming in from the outside who don't know the club and what has been going on in and around the place, they may come in with a more relaxed attitude which will hopefully rub off on other individuals."

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3 players leave Stags - 2 may come in and 2 more may go out
CHAD.co.uk, 27Mar08, by Tim Morriss

MANSFIELD Town have allowed three players to leave the club on a dramatic loan deadline day at Field Mill.
And caretaker boss Paul Holland said on Thursday morning that he hopes to bring in two new, experienced players on Thursday afternoon.

He also revealed that he had received enquiries from other clubs for two other players in the Stags squad.

Full story http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/3-players-leave-Stags-.3920201.jp

Both players - who may either go out on loan or as a permanent signing - have been the target for two separate clubs.

Holland said: "We need to offload players to bring new players in.

"By paying their contracts up they become free agents, and in the long run it saves the club money."

The Stags, facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation from the Football League, have paid up the contracts of summer signing John McAliskey and Danny Reet.

The strikers have not featured in the first team for some time. Reet has been on loan at Alfreton since the autumn and last week Holland told a fans forum that he had told the player's agent he was free to find another club.

McAliskey, who scored two goals in 11 starts, joined the Stags from Huddersfield, together with defender Martin McIntosh who has been dogged by injruy for most of the campaign.

On loan midfielder Will Atkinson has returned to Hull City after two months at the Mill at the Tigers' request.

Holland said today that he did not want to lose the player and would not rule out the player coming back to the club in the future.

Jefferson Louis, who has been on international duty with the Dominican Republic, is expected to join up with the squad later this week ahead of Saturday's crunch match at local rivals Notts County.

 

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