Archived News from February 2009
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WOODHOUSE,RUSHDEN,STALLARD,CLARE,SHOPPING LIST
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Holdsworth ponders Woodhouse agreement
CHAD.co.uk, 23 February 2009, By John Lomas CURTIS Woodhouse may yet play against his former club on Saturday. Full story at CHAD.co.uk here Stags boss David Holdsworth made a 'gentlemens' agreement' with former Rushden and Diamonds boss Garry Hill that Woodhouse would not play against them in either BSP clash this season after making the move to Field Mill early this year. But Hill has now resigned and been replaced by Justin Edinburgh as caretaker of the Nene Park hot seat and Holdsworth admitted: "I intend to work on that equation. "I am a man of my word - but I made that agreement with Garry Hill. I need to have a think about it." On Saturday Diamonds blitzed cash-strapped Weymouth 9-0 away from home after the club had to play youth team players with their first team members uninsured and without wages. "I spoke to Justin who is a good man I have a lot of time for and he said it was a bit of an embarrassment to be fair," added Holdsworth "You don't want to hurt kids and it's not nice for the youngsters getting whipped like that." ------------- Strike duo doubts for Rushden Evening Post, 23 February 2009 Mansfield's attacking duo Rob Duffy and Louis Briscoe are both doubts for Saturday's game at Rushden and Diamonds. Full story at Evening Post website here The duo were forced off in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Oxford United with calf and back injuries respectively. And already Stags boss David Holdsworth is planning for the possibility of being without them at Nene Park. “Duffy is touch and go for the weekend. I would say Briscoe hasn't got any chance for the weekend, but we would hope he would be back for the week after,” he said. “When it is the inflammation of the back, as it is with him, you have to be very careful.” As a result, Mark Stallard has been pulled out of tomorrow's reserve game at Sheffield Wednesday (7pm). The experienced striker was not on the bench at Oxford, but Holdsworth explained he had his reasons. He said: “Mark is in the equation for Saturday, I'm delighted with his overall contribution at the club. “But I had to make a decision at Oxford. Michael Blackwood was on the bench so I could change it out wide, Aaron O'Connor was on for his pace, Neil MacKenzie was on in case I lost a midfielder, Gianluca Havern was there as a replacement defender and then I had Jason White as a substitute goalkeeper. “I would love to have been able to put more people on the bench, but it meant Mark and Alan (O'Hare) found themselves sitting in the stands. “Sometimes you have to make decisions that upset people but if I don't make tough decisions then I wouldn't be doing my job.” Scott Gardner is still a week or two away from returning to training with a hamstring problem 'maybe longer'. Alex Jeannin is back in light training after a foot injury. Meanwhile, Curtis Woodhouse could yet figure against old club Rushden. Holdsworth made a gentleman's agreement with then boss Garry Hill when signing the midfielder that he would not play for the Stags against Diamonds. He was as good as his word in the two sides' meeting at Field Mill when Woodhouse sat out the match. Since then, though, Hill has left the club and been replaced at the helm by Justin Edinburgh. “I will be interested to analyse that equation but I am also a man of my word,” said Holdsworth. “My arrangement was with Garry Hill, so I will have a good think about it.” ------------------ Stallard could make a return CHAD.co.uk, 23 February 2009, By John Lomas TOP scorer Mark Stallard could be set for a first team return at Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday. Full story at CHAD.co.uk here Stallard has been out of new boss David Holdsworth's plans for much of his tenure so far, twice coming on as substitute. But with Rob Duffy injured and Stallard now getting back to full fitness and raring to go, he could be back in the frame to try to add to his six-goal early season burst. Already he has been withdrawn from the Stags reserve side to play away at Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night (7pm) with one eye on Saturday and Holdsworth said: "Since I have been here Mark has been magnificent. "When I arrived I think taking over as caretaker manager with Adie had been a weight on his shoulders and he had been injured. He didn't look very sharp. "So I took him out of the limelight and told him to get into shape which he has done and I have been delighted with his contribution around the place. He is a good pro. "But on Saturday I had to make a decision and I had Michael Blackwood on the bench for his width, Aaron O'Connor for his pace, Neil MacKenzie in case I lost a midfielder, Jason White cover for keeper and Luca Harvern in case we lost a defender. "So I could not find room for him as well and I explained that. "But he will be involved on Saturday - especially with Rob Duffy struggling with injury." -------------- Midfield trio delight boss CHAD.co.uk, 23 February 2009, By John Lomas STAGS manager David Holdsworth had high praise for his midfield trio for their display in Saturday's narrow defeat at Oxford. Full story at CHAD.co.uk here Both Matt Somner and Jon D'Laryea are using their new licences to get forward and Holdsworth said: "I thought our midfield was outstanding and we edged that battle on Saturday. "It was a good match in there against a lot of know-how. "Jon D'Laryea is now getting into those areas he is not used to, and even Matt Somner is getting into areas of execution as I like midfield players who can break on into the box and gamble. "Each game they are enjoying it even more. "We see more each week of what Jon will become. He is an honest kid and is starting to get around the pitch. "There seemed to be a lot of pessimism about Matt Somner's ability when I arrived here. But with what I like to think is a good bit of man-management and putting a square peg into a square hole you get the best out of people and fans will recognise that. "Matty is a great character and I call him 'The Beast' as he is a strong boy. "Curtis just does what it says on the tin and is a great character. "The direction we are going in is right. They are organised and know what to do and what not to do." --------------- Goalscorer remains top of the shopping list CHAD.co.uk, 23 February 2009, By John Lomas DAVID Holdsworth is working hard on landing a proven goalscorer - but if it takes until the summer then the Stags boss is happy to stay patient to get the right player. Full story at CHAD.co.uk here Rushden's decision to slap a £10,000 price tag on Daryl Clare will probably ease fans' speculation that he is about to sign, his wages also likely to be an issue. But Holdsworth remains busy and hopeful and said: "I have lost count of the number of managers I spoke to at the weekend. "I like to do my homework on people and I won't bring in people for the sake of it, no matter what their reputation. If I have to be patient I will be. I don't want journeymen. "I am like the supporters, I want the team to be scoring goals - I know what we need. It sticks out a mile." Asked if Daryl Clare was on his shopping list, he added: "Daryl Clare is a good goalscorer. So was Kenny Dalglish, so was Kevin Keegan, so was Gary Lineker! I deal with facts. "But today I have spoken to three League clubs about players I would like to join us depending on availability, finance and commitment. "The final component is always the most difficult part. And this time of year players don't like dropping down to the Conference level." He added: "I came here knowing we needed clean sheets to win a relegation battle. "We have almost achieved that and we will secure our status soon - that was the objective. "With results going well, it was inevitable there would be talk of play-offs. But let's be realistic, after the slump that followed a bright start, Mansfield have never been in a position to achieve that this season." ---------------- Players respond well after first defeat CHAD.co.uk, 23 February 2009, By John Lomas STAGS boss David Holdsworth was delighted with the attitude of his players in training today as they got their first defeat under his stewardship - a 1-0 defeat at Oxford on Saturday - out of their systems. Full story at CHAD.co.uk here "It is interesting to see how players respond to a defeat," he said. "You look for a response and I got one in training today. You don't spit your dummy out - it is not the end of the world. "You need a middle base - don't go too high or too lowADVERTISEMENT. We know we could have come away with something from Oxford but that's life. "We have had a good session today and there is no hangover from Saturday "I am trying to create a positive attitude around the team. That's my job, my responsibility, and I enjoy that part of it. "Having seen the evidence - the stats - there are a lot of positives from Saturday. We will play worse than that and win. "We were up against a team with a lot of know-how who will definitely make the play-offs. "I have always said if you keep clean sheets, you won't lose games. But the reverse is true as well and if you don't take your chances you won't win games." He added: "The players are learning - they are learning about me. "They are part of my family now and I care about them very much. "They are showing good spirit and togetherness and if they continue like that they won't go far wrong - they will have more good days than bad days." ---------------- Stags chairman quashes Clare rumours CHAD.co.uk, 22 February 2009 MANSFIELD Town chief Andy Perry has ended speculation that prolific striker Daryl Clare is set to sign for the Stags over the next few days. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-chairman-quashes-Clare-rumours.5004595.jp Internet websites suggested that the 30-year-old would be quitting Rushden for Field Mill on Monday - the second time in two months Clare has been linked with the Stags - even though Diamonds have placed a £10,000 price on the former Burton and Chester marksman. Mansfield manager David Holdsworth last week acknowledged that his side needed more goals - just five goals in the seven matches during his reign - but warned: "Of course we would like a 20-goal a season striker and we will continue to search and search for players. These cost money though and we have to remain within our budget and our standards." However, despite rumours suggesting that Clare was prepared to take a wage cut to join the Stags and be nearer his Lincolnshire home, chairman Perry said on fans website Stagsnet on Sunday: " Clare has not signed for us and there will not be an announcement Monday. "R&D and Clare are in dispute over unpaid wages. This was resolved at a hearing on Friday and R&D won. "Clare must now go back to R&D and resume training or he will be in breach of contract. R&D do not want him, but will only release him from his contract if £10,000 is paid for him. "They are prepared to pay the player and sit on this registration until the end of the season." York City and Kettering are also in the hunt for the experienced marksman, according to website rumours. Rushden had earlier said over Christmas that Clare could leave for personal reasons, after he said he wanted to be closer to his Lincolnshire home. Before going to Rushden last summer, the striker bagged more than 50 goals in just over 100 League apearances at Boston United, Crawley and Burton Albion. That followed 48 goals in 53 league appaearnces in the Football League for Chester. Clare, who started his career at Grimsby, has also played at Chletenham and Northampton. In January Holdsworth had ruled out a move for Clare - strongly rumoured at that time - saying: "He is a very good player, but we can't afford him; you can only shop in Harrods if you pay Harrods prices." The striker was then linked with a move to King's Lynn, but this failed to materialise. ------------------ |
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