Archived News from May 2008
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PREVIEWS: WHITE, BUXTON, MULLINS, HOLLAND
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Click here to listen to the latest edition of Chad's Stags Talk. Not to be missed as always.
------------ CHAD VIDEO: White readies himself for crunch time 24April2008, By John Lomas After a season spent largely as second choice, Stags goalkeeper Jason White finds himself in the thick of the relegation action at crunch time. Last weekend against Shrewsbury he was hero and villain as he let in a soft early goal only to produce a crucial save near the end. Today Chad spoke to White in an exclusive video interview about his disappointment of not becoming Field Mill number one this season, the Shrewsbury game and the pressures of the relegation battle. Video here ------------------- CHAD AUDIO: Captain Bucko on fight to regain Stags first team place 24April2008, By John Lomas MANSFIELD Town captain Jake Buxton spoke to Chad on Thursday morning about his hopes to regain a first team place after his two-match suspension. The defender would like to feature in the starting line-up for the crunch relegation match against Rotherham on Saturday, but knows manager Paul Holland faces a tough decision. Click here to listen to the interview with Chad's John Lomas. -------------------- Capital plans for Mansfield Town CHAD.co.uk, 24April2008 MANSFIELD Town will travel down to London the day before the final crunch game at Dagenham and Redbridge. Manager Paul Holland is determined to give his side the best possible chance of survival and said: "We will prepare right. "I have booked a hotel for Friday night and sorted where we are training. We are doing things right to give ourselves the best chance." ------------------- Stags squad kept on tenterhooks CHAD.co.uk, 24April2008 STAGS boss Paul Holland looks likely to have a full squad training with him tomorrow, but will leave it until the very last minute before making one of his most crucial team selections of the season for Saturday's home clash with Rotherham. Mansfield could be relegated if everything goes wrong for them on Saturday and Holland know he has to get the combination exactly right to keep the Great Escape on course. Gareth Jelleyman is back in training today after his Achilles' tendon injury while skipper Jake Buxton is available again after completing a two game ban and Holland said: "It is important to have everyone fit and there are going to be some disappointed faces in that dressing room. Full story at CHAD website here "I will leave it until the last minute before I announce the starting side. "You can only pick 11 and those who are not selected I expect to be mature and professional about it. "I have not decided which 11 I will go with yet. I will be watching the players very closely in training. "That's how it should be. If you are doing it in training then you should deserve a chance on the Saturday β nothing should be set in stone. "You can't coast through training at this standard." Last weekend's thrilling 3-1 home victory against Shrewsbury kept their hopes of the Great Escape alive for another week and Holland said: "I was pleased to have this week free to enjoy last Saturday's victory and let the other sides down there worry about the form we are in. "We are at home where we have taken seven points out of nine and should have had nine, being 2-0 up against Barnet. "I probably should have changed things in that game but you have to learn by your mistakes so you don't make them again. "It is important I stay calm and positive for the players but come Saturday I will be as nervous as anyone. "I am a Mansfield Town fan and I think that is important as I do care where this football club is going. "We have given ourselves a great chance after it looked so slim not long back. But we have to grab it with both hands. "You do look at the table and all the possibilities and permutations. But it's what we do on Saturday that is important. "If we win we could be out the bottom two and even go up three or four places going into the last game which would be a great filip. "We could have gone down last weekend but we didn't. We could go down this weekend but we are not going to. We are very positive." Top scorer and last weekend's hat-trick hero Mickey Boulding is avoiding full training on his ankle injury but working hard and Holland added: "Mickey will be following the same programme he did last Thursday and Friday which certainly seemed to work. Hopefully it will have the same result this Saturday!" ----------------------- Memory driving mullins Evening Post, 24Apr2008 Johnny Mullins is using the pain of a previous relegation from the Football League with Kidderminster to drive him on in Mansfield's final two games of the season. The Stags are one point adrift of safety and currently sit in one of the two relegation places along with already-relegated Wrexham. Full story at Evening Post website here But wins in their final home game against Rotherham on Saturday and at fellow strugglers Dagenham and Redbridge on the last day would guarantee League Two football next season. Mullins spent a large chunk of the 2004-2005 season on loan at Kidderminster from Reading as they dropped into non-league football. And with those memories still etched in his mind and the impact relegation had on both the club and the town, he is determined his current side will not suffer the same fate. "I know from experience that getting relegated to the Conference is a huge blow and the day it happens is horrible," said Mullins. "That is why we are so desperate to make sure it doesn't happen . "We still have a chance to put the wrongs of our season right and if we do that it will have been a great achievement, even if it has not been a good year. "Dutch (manager Paul Holland) has got everyone believing in themselves and the atmosphere is good. "Everyone is very upbeat and positive. Shrewsbury was a winnable game and the next one against Rotherham is too. "Then it is down to Dagenham and if we get the job done there, we will be safe." Although Michael Boulding has caught the eye with 25 goals in a struggling side, defender Mullins is rated by many fans as the club's player of the year. But the 22-year-old will take little comfort from that if things don't go to plan in the Stags' next 180 minutes of football. Mullins said: I think I have done okay this season but I won't consider it a good one if I look back and we have been relegated." ------------------ Jelleyman back in training at Mansfield Evening Post, 24Apr2008 Gareth Jelleyman returned to Mansfield's training today and should be available for selection against Rotherham on Saturday. Full story at Evening Post website here The left-back sat out last Saturday's crucial 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury with an Achilles problem. But after responding to treatment, he will give boss Paul Holland an extra option at the back, along with Jake Buxton, who has served a two-match suspension. Top scorer Michael Boulding (ankle) is to miss full training but, like last week, will do his own fitness work and is set to play. βIt's important to have selection issues and a nice problem to have,β said Holland. Johnny Mullins (ankle) will not train today after picking up a knock against Shrewsbury. But he is expected to be back tomorrow in time to prove his fitness ahead of the Millers clash. ------------------- Administrator still in talks with bidders; Mansfield match definitely on http://www.rotherhamunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=389473 By Millers Trust Friday, 25th April 2008 The latest release from the Millers Trust, following further talks with the administrator this morning. The board of the Millers Trust read yesterday's press release from the administrator with concern. The position that the club finds itself in is clearly very serious. It is by no means hopeless, however. The Trust has been in contact with the administrator this morning. It will continue to use that channel to keep the supporters of the football club as informed as possible and to represent the fans to the club and the administrator. From enquiries made of the High Court in Leeds this morning, the Trust does not believe that an application has been made against the administrator. The administrator confirmed to the Trust that he has had no contact from CF Booth Limited or its representatives this morning. The administrator is continuing to work towards a sale of the club with three interested parties. Those talks are continuing today. The Trust believes, therefore, that the imminent threat of closure has receded somewhat. The game against Mansfield tomorrow goes ahead. In a fluid situation like the one in which the club finds itself, it is important to recognise the important difference between supposition, rumour and fact. At the moment, apart from what has come from the administrator this morning, there are very few hard facts available to supporters and until the true position becomes clearer, it is difficult to for the Trust to present a detailed plan of action. Whatever the next few days and weeks hold, the events of yesterday demonstrate how important a credible fans' body can be to the future of the club. The more members and the more funds that the Trust has, the more weight it will be able to bring to bear in any future discussions with the administrator, prospective purchasers or, indeed, CF Booth and the more ability it will have to take positive steps for the future of the club. The Trust therefore repeats its plea for new membership and donations. As soon as there is more clarity as to the club's future, the Trust will call a meeting of its members to discuss and agree a course of action. There is a distinct possibility that the Trust may announce a members meeting and/or fans forum at short notice in the near future and the Trust would welcome the assistance of supporters in advertising any such event in due course |
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