Archived News from January 2015
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STAGS SIGN BILLY KEE ON LOAN UNTIL APRIL 7
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Boss fights off interest to capture striker Kee
mansfieldtown.net, 5th January 2015 Manager Adam Murray has fought off interest from other Sky Bet League Two clubs to sign highly-rated striker Billy Kee on loan from Scunthorpe United. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/boss-fights-off-interest-to-capture-striker-kee-2182387.aspx#AJr9HI0bvQt2hW7j.99 The 24-year-old links up with the Stags on a three month loan, subject to clearance from the Football Association and Football League. Before signing for League One Scunthorpe in August last year, Kee enjoyed a prolific three-year spell at former club Burton Albion, scoring 39 goals in 99 league appearances, 70 of them starts. In all competitions he made 117 appearances, scoring 42 times. Kee, who started his career at Leicester City, has also enjoyed spells at Accrington Stanley and Torquay United and has international honours with Northern Ireland at both U19 and U21 level. His 14 goals last season helped Burton Albion reach the League Two play-off final, where they lost out to Fleetwood Town at Wembley. After capturing the much-coveted frontman, manager Adam Murray said: "Billy has been much sought after in this transfer window by other League Two clubs, positioned higher in the table than ourselves. "For a while now, we have been in much need of a proven 'fox in the box' at this level and Billy is someone who has consistently scored goals throughout his career. "He is proven at this level and understands what it takes to win. He is a strong character, and after talking to a lot of people in the game, he is exactly what we need right now." -------------------- Confidence is key for loanee mansfieldtown.net New striker aims to get a run of games, which he hopes will bring a good goal return. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/confidence-is-key-for-loanee-2186580.aspx#WjUjBDvKR0dxwMot.99 Loan signing Billy Kee is determined to return to his old habits of scoring goals on a frequent basis as he aims to play regularly following his switch from Scunthorpe United. The striker, who joined the Sky Bet League One club last summer, penned a three-month loan switch with us yesterday which will expire in early-April. “It’s obviously good to be back in a first team squad and hopefully I can get playing again,” said Kee. When asked what qualities he’ll bring to the squad, the powerful frontman continued: “I’m a goalscorer - as simple as that. If I get the chances then I’ll score. “The more games I get, the more confidence I’ll get and surely the goals will come.” Ironically, Kee is in line to make his debut for us against Burton Albion, by whom he is held in extremely high regard for his goalscoring exploits over the last couple of years. The 24-year-old was also on the score-sheet in our 1-0 defeat at the Pirelli Stadium last season. He reminisced: “I had a good few years there. I think I scored something like forty or so goals in about 100 games and I really enjoyed it, but it was time to move on in the summer. “I enjoyed it at Burton. It was a good club to me and I wish them all the best.” Explaining his thoughts on Sky Bet League Two, Kee added: “I think it’s all about confidence in this league. If you get a good run of games and go on a good run of form, you can go up the league quickly. “The thing about this league is that anyone can beat anyone. I’ve been around at the bottom and up near the play-offs for the last three or four years and it’s about confidence.” “I’ve only been here for a few hours, but there seems to be good morale and a good set of lads who want to work hard and do well for each other.” --------------------------------- Nottingham Post, by Sarah Clapson (from interview with Mark Stevenson for StagsPlayer) The last time Mansfield Town travelled to Saturday's opponents Burton Albion, a certain Billy Kee scored the decisive goal. Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Burton-Albion-v-Mansfield-Town-Match-preview/story-25826557-detail/story.html#ixzz3OFw3QDMn Back in November 2013, it was the Brewers who were celebrating when the striker headed in an Adam McGurk cross in the 78th minute. This weekend though, he is hoping the situation will be reversed. Kee could be in line for his first start in a Stags shirt at his former stomping ground, the Pirelli Stadium, after joining on loan from Scunthorpe United this week. After a difficult time with the Iron, where he has struggled for game time since signing from Burton in the summer, he is eager to get back on the pitch. And that means there is little room for sentiment when it comes to facing his old employers, who currently sit second in the table. "I think it was about ten minutes from the end, a header," he recalled of last season's meeting between the two teams. "I think I got a little nudge on the lad as well, so it was probably a foul! "It meant Burton won 1-0 at the time, but I'm sure I can turn it around this year." On playing against his old club, Kee added: "That doesn't matter to me. I just want to get playing games and I'm sure I'll score goals then." Those in Staffordshire will certainly testify to that. In a three-year spell at Albion, the Northern Irishman netted 39 times in 99 league appearances, helping them reach the League Two play-off final last term. "I had a good few years there," said Kee. "I think in about 100 games, I scored about 40 goals. "I enjoyed it from the minute I went there, probably that was why it was so successful. "And it's close to my home. Coming from Leicester, it was only half an hour or an hour to get there. "I really enjoyed it there but it was time to move on in the summer. "I moved on and it was one of those things. "But I enjoyed it at Burton. It was a good club to me and I wish them all the best." Things didn't quite go the same way at Scunthorpe. The 24-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Glanford Park, largely being restricted to a bit-part role with just one start to his name. "That's football. You can go to a club and not do anything," commented Kee. "I would say I've settled in there but, for me, I've not had enough games. "That's why I would like to get more games under my belt." And that's why he has joined the Stags. "I liked the sound of Adam," the front man said of his new manager. "I've played against him a few times and he spoke well to me. "And my family is only down the road - I've got a little baby boy and my missus. That's key for me playing well - to be around them. "It's good to be back in a first-team squad. Hopefully I can get back playing again. "I just want to play games. The more games I get, the more confidence I get and I'm sure the goals will come. "I just want to play games. That's the thing about me, I just love football and it's all I want to do. "I just want to get a few good days training in me and you'll see me tomorrow. "If I get to start, I'm sure I'll get a few chances, and if I get a few chances I'm sure I'll score." --------------- http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/murray-hoping-on-three-new-faces-for-stags-today-1-7035559#.VKva6BW52ME.twitter Murray has already pulled one rabbit out of the hat with the exciting capture of Scunthorpe striker Billy Kee yesterday on a three month loan. “I have know about Billy for a few years,” said Murray. “I have come up against him and played against him. “I know a lot of people who know him personally and managers that have had him. A lot of homework went into him and we are over the moon to get him. “He is a much sought after centre forward and throughout his career he has always scored goals. He never gives centre halves a moment’s rest. “He is a great character and, most importantly for me, he is a good person and honest. Hopefully he will hit the ground running.” --------------------- Scunthorpe United striker Billy Kee joins Mansfield Town on loan By Chris Sumpter, January 05, 2015 Read more: http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Scunthorpe-United-striker-Billy-Kee-close-loan/story-25807300-detail/story.html?674#ixzz3NxsazZ3x SCUNTHORPE United striker Billy Kee has this afternoon joined Mansfield Town on loan. The former Burton Albion front man, who only moved to Glanford Park at the start of the campaign, has found first-team football hard to come by with the Iron and has fallen further down the pecking order during the past few weeks. He will now attempt to rediscover his form with the League Two Stags in a three-month loan switch. Kee has made 16 appearances for United, but just one of those has been a start - the 1-1 FA Cup draw with Worcester City last month. He has only been on the bench once since and after the Iron's Boxing Day victory over Rochdale, boss Mark Robins said the front man was working through a 'personal issue' when asked about his absence. "Billy has got his own personal issue and illness to work through," Robins said at the time. “He’ll carry on and continue to do that and I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s back, ready to train and be involved with us. “There’s no specific timescale. I won’t put any pressure on Billy. He’s a really good lad and since I’ve come in here he’s tried his best and worked hard." Kee, who trained with Mansfield this morning, was signed by previous Iron manager Russ Wilcox in August, but he has struggled for match fitness and sharpness as well as minutes throughout his brief stint at Scunthorpe. He will hope a switch to the Stags, into a division with which he is already well-acquainted, will help him reproduce the sort of goal threat he possessed at the Brewers, where he netted 39 times in 99 League Two appearances. Speaking after the move was announced this afternoon, Mansfield boss Adam Murray said the Stags had beaten off competition from other fourth tier teams for Kee. "Billy has been much sought after in this transfer window by other League Two clubs, positioned higher in the table than ourselves," he told his club's official website. "For a while now, we have been in much need of a proven 'fox in the box' at this level and Billy is someone who has consistently scored goals throughout his career. "He is proven at this level and understands what it takes to win. He is a strong character and after talking to a lot of people in the game he is exactly what we need right now." ------------------- Charlie Slater @CharlieSlater15 Billy Kee has joined #stags on loan for three months. Not until the end of the season John Lomas @johnlomas The Kee loan for Stags is actually three months to April 7th, not end of season as first thought. ------------------ EARLIER STORY Mark Robins talks about absence of Scunthorpe United's former Burton Albion striker Billy Kee By ChrisSumpter, December 27, 2014 STRIKER Billy Kee has been missing from the Scunthorpe United matchday squad while he works through a ‘personal issue’, according to manager Mark Robins. Read more: http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Mark-Robins-talks-absence-Scunthorpe-United-s/story-25771870-detail/story.html#ixzz3O2eauoZg The former Burton Albion front man, who left the Brewers to move to Glanford Park at the beginning of the campaign, has not been on the bench for the past three games since being an unused substitute for the home game with Crewe Alexandra on December 13. Robins is hopeful Kee will be back before long, but insists United will not put any pressure on the 24-year-old and will support him fully until he is ready to return. “There’s a lot of injury and illness working its way through the camp,” said Robins, when asked about Kee’s absence on the back of the 2-1 win over Rochdale on Boxing Day. “Everybody is picking up sniffles and bugs and Billy has got his own personal issue and illness to work through. “He’ll carry on and continue to do that and I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s back, ready to train and be involved with us. “There’s no specific timescale. I won’t put any pressure on Billy. He’s a really good lad and since I’ve come in here he’s tried his best and worked hard. “He’s just a little issue to work through and he’ll be back with us as soon as he possibly can be. The club are supporting him, absolutely.” Kee was a prolific scorer at Burton, where he netted just short of 50 goals in 117 appearances, but the Iron’s FA Cup second round match against Worcester City is the only game he has started for Scunthorpe. ------------------- |
Latest | January 2015