Archived News from July 2016
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MIKE WHITLOW APPOINTED U21 COACH
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New U21s' coach appointed
mansfieldtown.net, 1st July 2016 We are pleased to announce the appointment of former Premier League defender Mike Whitlow as the new U21s coach. In accepting the new role, Mike has left his position as academy manager at EFL Championship club Burton Albion. Mike returns to One Call Stadium following a spell as Centre of Excellence manager in 2009/10. The UEFA A licensed coach then enjoyed a successful six-year-spell at the Pirelli Stadium. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/new-u21s-coach-appointed-3164881.aspx#qHctl4iCI39r5h25.99 As a player, Mike made over 400 appearances in a professional career which lasted almost 20 years. A Coca Cola Cup winner with Leicester City and former Players’ Player of the Season with Bolton Wanderers, Mike was also a part of the Leeds United squad which won the Division 2 and Division 1 titles in the early 1990s. Ending his career at Notts County, he became the Magpies’ youth and reserve coach as he embarked on a career in coaching young players. On accepting the new position at One Call Stadium, Mike told http://www.mansfieldtown.net: “This is a great opportunity for me. I want to be out ‘on the grass’ day in day out and this new role allows me to do that. “I am already looking forward to meeting the players in the new U21 set up and helping them develop. “The club has certainly progressed since I was last here and it was very promising meeting with the gaffer (Adam Murray), who clearly has a very pro-active attitude in developing young players, as was emphasised last season with the manager utilising some of the youngsters in his first team. “It’s important to be at a club which wants to progress young players and I know that Mansfield Town are that type of club.” The 48-year-old added: “I came to Brooksby College earlier today for a look around (home of the club’s youth set up), where I met with John Dempster (youth team manager) and his staff who made me feel very welcome. “They are dedicated to doing their utmost to help our young players develop to give them every possible chance of earning a professional deal.” Manager Adam Murray said: “I’ve known Mike for a long time, I worked with him at Burton, and you probably won’t get somebody better than Mike to do this job within our area. “He ran Burton’s academy from nothing to being one of the best around and has a track record of getting people into the first team at Burton. “This is a great coup for us and shows the progress which the football club is making,” he added. This season, the U21s will compete in the Central League against Chesterfield, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Rotherham and York City. ------------- Stags’ reputation on the rise with Whitlow appointment chad.co.uk, John Lomas Adam Murray believes the arrival of someone as experienced as Mike Whitlow as the club’s new U21s manager shows how Mansfield Town’s reputation is rising within the game. Whitlow has just taken over the reins of the Stags’ new intermediate team that is designed to help youth teamers into the first team and manager Murray said: “I think we were a little bit surprised as a football club. Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/stags-reputation-on-the-rise-with-whitlow-appointment-1-8002688#ixzz4Dtx0mGly “I know Mark Hawkins, Steve Hymas and John Dempster were very taken aback. “It was kind of an eye-opener as to how far the club has come and how people are now looking at Mansfield Town with the calibre of candidate we got. “Mark and Steve have done wonders to get Mike in. I’ve known Mike for a long time and I worked with him at Burton. You’re probably not going to get someone better in from our surrounding area to come in and the role. “He ran Burton’s Academy from nothing to being one of the best around. He’s got a track record of getting people into the first team at Burton - I think the average was about three or four a season. “So for us to go out and get someone of his experience and his background - he is more qualified than anybody I know.” Murray addeed: “Mike has been involved with first teams as well. “He was obviously a great player and he took the reins at Burton for them for a couple of stints and I think for John Dempster and myself, to have Mike in the middle of us is a great coup again. “I think it shows the progress the football club is making on and off the field.” The new U21s, currently awaiting their first fixtures list, are already raring to go. “There will be about 20 players,” said Murray. “Four of them have been in with us last week - and if I am being totally honest, they’ve surprised me with what standard they are at. “We’ve seen a couple of them last season with the youth team already. “We’ve got Zayn Hakeem training with us, who is on fire. “He is 17 going on 25 and plays like a man and thinks like a man. So I am excited with us pre-season. “In the new crop coming in with the youth team, there is some real talent in that group. Last year’s was strong but this year’s is going to be right up there. “So I think on all fronts, we are really looking forward to the season.” -------------- |
Latest | July 2016