Archived News from February 2010
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BURGESS BAN COMPLETE,TRIALIST DUO, SPEIGHT TO STAY
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Trialist duo at Field Mill CHAD.co.uk, 15 February 2010 Stags have two more players in on trial this week. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Trialist-duo-at-Field-Mill.6073175.jp Darren Manseram (25) is a 6ft 2ins striker who began his career with a lengthy spell at Grimsby Town. He has since played for a number of clubs both here and over in the League of Ireland and was most recently on the books of Gainsborough Trinity. The other player is 6ft 4ins centre half Matt Heywood (30), who started out at Burnley before a long spell at the back for Swindon Town. Since then he has been at Bristol City, Brentford and Grimsby who released him in the January transfer window. ------------------- MANSARAM TRIALS WITH STAGS nonleaguedaily.com David Holdsworth, manager of Blue Square Premier club Mansfield Town, will be running his eye over two new triallists throughout the week. Centre half Matthew Heywood and forward Darren Mansaram, who are both currently unattached, will be doing their best to impress the Stags' boss and earn themselves a deal. Heywood was released by Grimsby at the start of the month after spending a year and a half at Blundell Park. The 30-year-old 6'4β defender started his career with Burnley before spells at Swindon, Bristol City and then Brentford where he won Supporters' player of the season for 2007/08. Mansaram (pictured) began his career at Grimsby where he spent three years before moving to Halifax Town following a successful loan spell at The Shay. After further loans at Tamworth and York City, Mansaram moved to Irish side Sligo Rovers followed by a stint with Bohemians. He returned to England in 2008 to play for Leigh Genesis and finally Blue Square North Gainsborough Trinity, where he was released last week. ---------------------- Burgess suspension complete CHAD.co.uk, 15 February 2010 Midfielder Andy Burgess has now served his month-long ban and will be available for selection against his former club Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Burgess-suspension-complete.6073240.jp Contrary to a statement released by the FA stating that Burgess' ban would be effective from February 4th, it in actual fact came into force from the date of his hearing on 21st January. The former Luton man has missed out on six games during his suspension for contravening FA gambling rules. -------------------- Holdsworth: We need the fans mansfieldtown.net, Mon 15 Feb 2010 David Holdsworth says that the fans will need to play their part in our fight for promotion. http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/FromTheBoss/0,,10325~1966457,00.html The Gaffer had nothing but admiration for the 646 Stags supporters who roared the side onto victory at Tamworth on Saturday and said that he hoped for the same level of support to be repeated at all our remaining games as we do battle for a play off place. "I know the fans have had a long time of suffering and the fans are passionate. It gives me great pleasure to see how many turned up after a run of three defeats," he said. "We are going to need that for the rest of the season. It made a big difference on Saturday and they can make the difference. "They are great people and it's a massive boost to us. We care about the fans here and none more so than myself." There were many positives to be taken from Saturday's win - not least the end of a poor run of three straight defeats and Holdsworth reserved much of his praise for his strikeforce in particular. He added: "We were hurting and I take great confidence from the fact we did not drop our heads. We went out with purpose and the boys deserve the credit. "I was very pleased with the amount of quality goals and the execution of goals at the weekend was very good. "We created a lot of chances against a strong side that don't give a lot of goals away so I'm very pleased. "Rob Duffy has had a lot of critics but in the last few games he has been authoritive. I had that belief in Rob all the time and he's earned his place in the team. "He led the line extremely well and he brought other players into the game. He's playing at the top of his game so I'm very pleased. "Blair's (Sturrock) got the ability to play at the top level and you won't find anyone who works harder." The fact that four different players found the net on Saturday will be good news for Holdsworth who is now without the services of 10-goal striker Jake Speight for the next 4-6 weeks following the forward's recent operation to rectify a knee injury. He added: "Jake Speight is a big loss to us but the other boys are trying their best to get on the score sheet. "To lose him at this time is disappointing but hopefully we will get him back and he can play a part in the rest of the season. "It's shame as he is such an influence on us and hes proven to be a very good find." In other news, midfielder Oliver Hotchkiss is currently unwell and the manager will run the rule over him later in the week to test his fitness in time for Saturday's clash with Rushden. Meanwhile, we have not appealed Luke Jone's sending off which occurred against Stevenage last week and the defender will serve his final game of a two match ban this Saturday. ----------------------- Speight set to stay CHAD.co.uk, 15 February 2010, By John Lomas Even if he doesn't kick another ball for Mansfield Town this season, Stags striker Jake Speight will definitely be offered another year with the club. Speight had an operation on a torn cartilage last week and will be out for between four and six weeks. Stags are still hopeful he can play some part in the current season and boss David Holdsworth said: "Jake was on form and you will always miss a player like him. "He is as strong as an ox and we hope we will see him back this season. But we have to give it time to heal and we won't rush him. "I have already decided we will take up our option on him for next year. We have a strong relationship and he wants to play for me which is important." -------------- Shaw the man to fill Speight void at Stags Evening Post, February 15, 2010 JON Shaw can fill the big gap left by Jake Speight, Mansfield Town manager David Holdsworth predicted today. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Shaw-man-Speight-void-Stags/article-1835558-detail/article.html? The ten-goal forward is expected to be out for four to six weeks after having an operation to repair a tear in his meniscus knee cartilage. Holdsworth is loath to lose a player who has made a real difference to the Stags attack when available. But he feels Shaw β who has scored in each of his first two starts for Mansfield after recovering from a hamstring injury βis an ideal replacement. "It's horrible to lose Jake at this time and he's very disappointed too," said Holdsworth. "But he has had some floating bone taken out, is as strong as an ox and we will now help him recover. "We are looking at four to six weeks but we don't want to rush him back. Hopefully Jake can play some part in the rest of the season. "It has been a shame to lose such an influence and someone who is in form, but Jon has come in at just the right time. "Jon has made a brilliant impression. His fitness levels are tremendous and he is a real hard worker. "When I first met him, he said he knew we liked to play football but said we shouldn't be afraid to play balls down the channels for him to chase. "I told him I knew that and that's why I brought him here. He is able to extend teams and we know he is going to challenge hard for it." Holdsworth confirmed he will be taking up the year's option on Speight's contract to keep him at Field Mill next season. He said: "My relationship with Jake is very strong. He wants to play for me, which is lovely. "He has been a real find for us. There is no doubt we will be keeping him here next season." Mansfield have taken former Swindon central defender Matt Heywood, 30, on trial. Joining him is former Grimsby and Halifax striker Darren Mansaram, 25. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe has left the club by mutual consent. ------------- Nicholas makes early impact at Stags Evening Post, February 17, 2010 DAVID Holdsworth is thrilled by the smooth introduction to his Mansfield Town team of on-loan left-back Andy Nicholas. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Nicholas-makes-early-impact-Stags/article-1839973-detail/article.html The Rotherham United player, who has signed until the end of the season, performed well in his first week with assured performances against Stevenage and Tamworth. And the 26-year-old also had the distinction of opening his Mansfield account at the New Lamb with a sweet strike in a 4-2 victory. Holdsworth has been impressed with how quickly Nicholas has quickly warmed to his task at Field Mill. "Andy has come from a League club and settled straight in, which says a lot about the dressing room we have," he said. "He has a long throw, his defending ability is there to be seen and he popped up with a goal at Tamworth. "It was great for him that his family were there on Saturday to see it. "He's had an in-and-out time of it at Rotherham. It is nice to bring in someone of his quality and he will only benefit from playing games." Saturday's clash also saw Blair Sturrock register his first goal for the Stags after coming off the bench. Now Holdsworth is challenging the former Plymouth, Swindon and Torquay man to use that as a springboard to rediscover his best form. He said: "Blair has had a few 'ooos' before Saturday, but that's no good to anyone. "He's technically very gifted and it is good to see him get off the mark because it has probably been playing on his mind a little bit as a striker lives and dies by his goals. "He can play at a higher level but he finds himself at Mansfield. Now it is up to him but I know he is working very hard away from the pitch as well as on it." --------------- |
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