Archived News from November 2016
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STEVE EVANS UNVEILED AS STAGS MANAGER
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Mansfield Town announce Steve Evans as new manager
mansfieldtown.net, 16th November 2016 Mansfield Town are delighted to announce nine-time promotion winning manager Steve Evans as their new first team boss. The club has acted very swiftly in appointing its new manager and is delighted to have secured the services of Mr Evans, who has maintained a consistent track record of delivering success at every club he has managed. Mr Evans is joined at One Call Stadium by his long-serving assistant Paul Raynor. Chairman John Radford said: “Steve’s résumé is amongst the best in the English Football League and his appointment underlines the club’s high ambitions. “The club is geared for success from top to bottom and we have every confidence in Steve to fulfil the club’s potential.” Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/mansfield-town-announce-steve-evans-as-new-manager-3418747.aspx#8moCZ6SieGMfT3SD.99 Chief Executive Officer Carolyn Radford said: “Steve’s passion for both football and success is infectious and we are looking forward to working with him. “His proven record of achieving silverware made Steve the outstanding candidate to lead the club into a new era. “This is arguably the most significant and most exciting appointment the club has made in its modern history,” added Mrs Radford. Mr Evans’ managerial career began at non-league outfit Stamford, where he won consecutive United Counties League Premier Division titles. His next spell, as manager of Boston United, saw Mr Evans lead the club into the Football League from the Southern Premier. After taking the reins at Crawley in 2007, Mr Evans achieved a double promotion at the Broadfield Stadium in a five-year stint. Another highly successful spell, this time at Rotherham United, saw Mr Evans lead the Millers to promotion from League Two and then to the Championship via a play-off final victory at Wembley. The 54-year-old then established the club as a Championship outfit before being appointed as manager of Leeds United, where he helped propel the club to a respectable position of 13th in the Sky Bet Championship. -------------------- John Radford interview in 1861 Suite before Crawley game, 19Nov2016: interviewer (Chris Revill): Steve Evans won't have come cheap ... John Radford: Steve Evans has come to the club. He's not asked for lots of money. He's asked for bonuses on promotion. He's confident in his own abilities. All he asked of me is: chairman if you're behind me and I get the club and town behind me, I'll do what you expect me to do." -------------- Evans: The roller-coaster starts today mansfieldtown.net, 16th November 2016 New Stags’ boss Steve Evans says he will 'give everything' to the club’s fans after being appointed as manager earlier today. The nine-time promotion winner put pen-to-paper on a deal at One Call Stadium this afternoon before being presented to the media in the Kevin Bird Suite. And 54-year-old Evans, speaking exclusively to mansfieldtown.net, said the he will 'give his life' to the club’s fans. “The fans will get everything. They’ll get Steve Evans' life and if you go and ask Massimo Cellino, the owner of Leeds United, if you go and ask Tony Stewart, the owner of Rotherham, you can’t ask Bruce Winfield who is sadly no longer with us, the guy who led the revolution down at Crawley Town along with the Carter family, then they would say you get my life,” said Mr Evans. “I literally live and breathe it, so that’s what they get plus a wealth of experience now across the years and someone who’s very focussed. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/evans-the-roller-coaster-starts-today-3419319.aspx#rtAVlcB14wmZFssu.99 “It’s important for me that the supporters turn up on Saturday. There’ll be no miracles, there’ll be no major changes - they can’t see nine new faces because of where we are and they won’t see that going forward, but turn up and get behind the team and let’s be in it together; win, lose or draw because the roller-coaster, as I described it at Rotherham, it starts today.” After meeting chairman John Radford earlier this week, Evans said the owner ‘sold the club to him’. “When I went from Crawley when I went from virtually out of League One to League Two to join Rotherham United, I met a man call Tony Stewart, the chairman, and he sold a vision, he sold a plan and said certain things that he was going to do and he did every one of those - I met a man in the last 48 hours in John Radford who reminded me so much of that previous conversation. “I didn’t want to go in somewhere that was fire-fighting in the leagues above and fighting against supporters and trusts and different people - I wanted to join a football club like I joined previously where everyone was pulling together and it’s fair to say that the chairman sold himself and the football club in a very admirable fashion and it didn’t take me long to want to be here.” (comment from Martin - clearly talking about Charlton Athletic) Looking at the squad which Mr Evans has inherited at the club, the new boss says he will assess the squad fairly and give everyone an equal opportunity. “I think anyone looking in would say they’ve got some top players, they’ve got some average and they’ve possibly got some players that are a little bit short but the one thing that I’ve always prided myself on is myself and Paul Raynor, we come in and assess and we give everyone an equal opportunity. “It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re 33 or whether you’re 16 - if you’re good enough you’ll go in to the team. We’re going to have a good look, we’ll meet with the rest of the staff, we’ll take opinions and we’ll take issues [if] there are any there - we don’t expect any because I think what I’ve been told, it’s a very positive group in the dressing room and we have to continue that.” Supporters can view Steve Evans’ first interview as Stags’ boss on Stags PlayerHD. --------------------- Evans' high ambition seals deal for CEO mansfieldtown.net, 16th November 2016 by Tom Errington Stags’ Chief Executive Officer Carolyn Radford says the appointment of new manager Steve Evans is a ‘real statement of intent’ to the club’s supporters. The nine-time promotion winner was today unveiled as the club’s new boss after Mrs Radford and chairman John Radford met Evans on Monday evening to discuss the 54-year-old joining the club and subsequently agreed a deal which was signed by both parties this afternoon. With the current League Two table so congested with just three points between the Stags and the play-off places, Evans outlined his belief that the club can be promoted this season and Mrs Radford shares that vision. “We’re privileged to have Steve with us,” Mrs Radford said. “It’s a real statement of intent to deliver on our promise to the fans to get promotion and we hope Steve can bring that success. Steve can absolutely get us promoted this season.” Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/evans-ambitious-vision-key-to-appointment-ceo-3420056.aspx#VbeW88x0yAmWDOhX.99 Mr and Mrs Radford were drawn to Evans’ reputation as a promotion winner, achieving the feat with Crawley Town before taking Rotherham United from League Two to the Championship. “It’s absolutely massive for the club and we’re thrilled he’s decided to come on board with us and to take the club forward. We want promotion and he often delivers that.” Evans has been a man in high demand since leaving Leeds United at the end of last season and he has made no secret of the fact he has turned down a number of clubs over the past few months before securing his return to football with the Stags. And our CEO was delighted to secure the deal with the new manager and spoke about how both herself and Mr Radford immediately connected with Evans during their first meeting with the 54-year-old Scot. “There was a little bit of romance involved - we took him to the hotel where he proposed to his wife and we got on really well, there was a good working relationship straight away. “It’s really important that we get on with our manager because there has to be an element of a good relationship and if you have that mutual respect it’s easier to go forward. “We like to have that banter too and it’s great to have a good relationship as we’re on the same journey. The highs are high and the lows are lows so it’s great if going forward you’re singing from the same hymn sheet.” -------------------- Stags chairman Radford so delighted to get his man chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town chairman John Radford believes he has landed the right manager to win him the promotion he is so desperate to achieve. Following Adam Murray’s departure on Monday, Radford surprised supporters by moving swiftly to bring in the vastly experienced and successful Steve Evans, whom many thought would not drop down to a League Two club again after his spell at Leeds United last season. “We knew we had to act quickly when Adam decided to leave,” said Radford. “We are an ambitious club and looking round for a manager, who better than Steve Evans? Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-chairman-radford-so-delighted-to-get-his-man-1-8243923 “He has had nine promotions. If we want promotion I think we have the right guy in Steve Evans. “Myself and Carolyn (CEO Radford) went and charmed him and he has come on board. It was hard getting over the line but I am glad we got him there. “We wanted someone with experience, someone with a proven record and someone with ambition - as much ambition as myself. We’ve got that in Steve Evans. “He has a lot of work to do between now and the transfer window, but we will see what we can do. Hopefully we can deliver on what we’re looking to deliver. “The football club has come a long way in the last few seasons after getting out the Conference and getting the ground sorted out, which was hard to do. “We have always said to fans this club deserves success and we have had to look round.” He continued: “We have been lucky to get Steve Evans. If Adam had not left when he did I am not sure we would have got Steve if we had waited any longer. “Now let’s all get behind our new manager and see if we can achieve what we think we can achieve.” On Murray’s departure, Radford said “Adam has been a stalwart of this football club and will always be a legend here. “I have worked with him very closely. He was given the job here as a young manager and I am sure he will get back into it if that’s what he wants to do. “The club will always look on Adam Murray with fond memories. “It was painful when he decided to leave on Monday. Adam, in his head, did what is best for the club and left. “We were then in a mad rush. We knew Steve Evans was out there, we contacted him and managed to sort the position out and I am grateful he’s come to the club. “Adam has gone and it’s now about looking forward for the club.” Radford dismissed suggestions he had planned to bring in Evans ahead of Murray’s departure, saying: “No, not at all. Adam decided to leave. We knew Steve Evans was out there and it was a case of acting quickly. “Steve said there has always been a few clubs chasing him and we knew from a while ago that Steve did have an interested and a passion for Mansfield Town, so it was nice to make contact with him and me and Carolyn managed to convince him to come on board. We are pleased to have him here.” Carolyn Radford added: “It is massive. We are so privileged to have Steve join us, we really are. “It’s a statement of our intent that we definitely want to deliver on our promises to the fans which was promotion, and there is no one else better to do that for us.” Evans was certainly no stranger to the location where the two parties met. “I actually took him to the hotel where he proposed to his wife,” she smiled. “I don’t know if that had anything to with his decision to come here.” -------------------- Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc New manager Steve Evans has requested the dugouts to be moved to beneath the Ian Greaves Stand so he can be closer to our supporters. -------------------- Dug-outs to be moved as Stags fans get closer to new boss Evans chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town fans are going to be seeing a lot more of colourful new manager Steve Evans after it was revealed he would be having the dug-outs moved from the far side in front of the main Ian Greaves Stand. A very animated figure at every club he has been at, fans have often watched his touchline antics as much as the actual play as the facial expressions on this video of his time at Crawley Town shows A club statement said: The club is expected to move the dugouts to beneath the Ian Greaves Stand in time for Saturday’s game at home to Crawley. “New manager Steve Evans yesterday revealed his desire to be closer to the Stags’ fans on home matchdays and requested that the dugouts be moved.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/video-dug-outs-to-be-moved-as-stags-fans-get-closer-to-new-boss-evans-1-8243226 With only coming into the club on Thursday, Chad asked Evans if he would be taking a seat in the stand for his opening game against his former club Crawley on Saturday to get a bigger picture of his new charges. But he replied he would be in the dug-out immediately. “I will be my usual self,” he smiled. “I can’t be what I am not going to be. “The supporters will quickly realise at the One Call Stadium that I am very passionate and career-driven and it will be no different whether I am here, Leeds or Crawley. “This is a very passionate management team the fans have got and we ask them to show their passion, get right behind the players and let’s see if we can start with a win and not get carried away, get three points in the bag and look forward to the Tuesday.” ------------ Stags players will get every chance to prove themselves, says new boss Evans chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Wednesday 16 November 2016 Steve Evans will give every current Mansfield Town player full opportunity to prove themselves to him before he starts making plans for the January transfer window. The new Stags boss has been promised every backing needed by chairman John Radford when the window opens. But Evans, who took over the hot seat this afternoon, said, ideally, he didn’t want to have to take advantage of the Radford war kitty and urged his side to keep the club in touch with the play-off pack. “The first thing we are going to do is give everyone an opportunity to perform, whether that means staff or players, and they’ll realise we are in a hurry to be promoted,” said Evans. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-players-will-get-every-chance-to-prove-themselves-says-new-boss-evans-1-8242660 “It doesn’t need to be now but we’re in a hurry to win some matches. We will do what it takes. “The chairman has given me every assurance, as has the CEO, to say they are going to be there for me when the window opens. “But a lot of that work is up to the players we’ve got. We don’t come in here saying we’d like to sign a full back or a striker or anyone. We’re going to give people an opportunity. “Because of the new system we can only bring new recruits in in January, so everyone will get a chance to deliver or make way for someone else.” The squad are no strangers to Evans. He said: “I have worked with a few of them, young Kevan Hurst, we gave him his League debut, Scott Shearer has got a couple of promotions as part of out squad, young Mitch Rose, I gave him his debut one night up at Bradford in front of 14,000-15,000 in a massive win for Rotherham in League Two when we had to keep in the promotion hunt. “So there are three or four in the squad we know, but we know a lot of them from playing against them.” Evans, with nine promotions on his CV has a vast experience of the game from top to bottom, his last post being at Championship Leeds United. “Leeds United is an iconic brand,” he said. “But we started off in non-League football and we’ve gone through the levels. “So we have experience across a mix of levels. It’s about what we are going to do here. “What we are going to do initially is make individuals better and make the team better, give them a bit more of identity and try to score a few more goals which gives you more of a chance of winning. “We will put our own stamp on the team as best we can and have an assessment programme between now and the January window. “I hope I don’t have to sit with the chairman and chief executive on a Monday or Tuesday night asking for transfer funds. “I don’t want to be in that position. I want to be in a position to say we are good to go. “It is 46 matches. It really is 46 battles over the course of a war. That’s what a season is. “Every club sets off at the start with an objective and Mansfield Town was no different. “The chairman and the chief executive spoke about delivering the play-offs and this far into the season they sit three points off the play-offs. “We will concentrate on wining Saturday and then take it a game at a time. “It is massively important we keep this football club in contention until we get to the January window. Nothing we give me greater pleasure than being right in contention and going forward with what we have got.” -------------------- Radford ambition for Championship football lured new boss Evans chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Wednesday 16 November 2016 New Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans said it was the ambition of chairman John Radford that convinced him to join the club. Despite being chased by clubs at higher levels, Evans was unveiled at a press conference this afternoon and said he believed fully in the vision that the Stags could reach the Championship, having achieved the same feat at Rotherham among his nine career promotions. New Mansfield Town manager, Steve Evans at a press conference at the One Call Stadium on Wednesday, flanked by Caroline Radford. “I first got the call on Monday evening from the chairman,” said Evans, who has brought regular No.2 Paul Raynor in with him. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/radford-ambition-for-championship-football-lured-new-boss-evans-1-8242637 “I was given the opportunity to go and meet him and Carolyn and it reminded me so much of my first meeting with Tony Stewart at Rotherham. “He was a very ambitious chairman - someone who described it as ‘time doesn’t go quick enough for the success he wants’, and I went away with the same feeling. That was the main reason I came here. “I have not joined Mansfield Town to be in League Two very long; that’s the first thing we’ll say. “I went into Rotherham United with a remit in League Two and we delivered that remit two years ahead of schedule. “The chairman is being more realistic with his time scales, but he has brought us here to deliver some results.” He added: “We left Crawley to go to Rotherham because Tony Stewart sold me a vision. “He told us what we could achieve and how he was going to back us. That’s what I was reminded of when I met the chairman and his good lady. “They are very ambitious people but I think in our brief time together on Monday evening they realised they have got a very ambitious manager in front of them. “It is very early doors. I’ve only been here a couple of hours. But we have a chairman who could substantiate being in the Championship without a doubt, and so could the chief executive. But we need to get the playing staff. They have to go and deliver the results. “We can achieve Championship status. I said it when I went to Rotherham and people thought I needed a straitjacket, they were probably right. But we got a couple of promotions and we can deliver that here. “We are going to need the support of everyone, local businesses, the supporters, the players, the staff old and new, and none more than the chairman and chief executive.” Evans continued: “This is a project. We’ve not come here to do something in six weeks. That’s not what it’s about. “We didn’t leave Crawley Town to go to Rotherham on a basis of six weeks either. “We have all seen clubs that have appointed head coaches or managers in the summer and moved them on in September and October and it’s nonsense. “All the conversation here has been how we are going to be successful together and I think we all knew it was right. There was never a conversation about terms until the very last seconds of our conversation. “I do believe with the Radford family the time will be given to build something here.” Evans believes it is time for Mansfield Town to shine after so long in the doldrums. “As a football club it is over-ripe for success,” he said. “If you look around this part of the world and you look at the clubs that have had success, Stags fans have had to suffer for too long in my opinion. “The chairman has come in and stabilised the club, probably spending a fortune in doing so and he is ready to take it to the next level - and that is what excited us. “I knew from when I met them, all bar speaking to Paul and my wife, it just felt ever so much right. That’s been the constant thing at home with the family. If it feels right dad then do it. “Yes, there have been opportunities to open up my mind to other things, but I genuinely never did because it felt right.” The Radfords were lucky to get hold of Evans on Monday, following the departure of Adam Murray. “I don’t normally answer my mobile when a number comes up I don’t recognise,” smiled Evans. “I was on my way to Waitrose to do some shopping with Paul in the car and it was the chairman on the other end of the phone on Monday afternoon asking if we could get together that evening. I have always believed in having a chat. “The One Call Stadium has always been a ground that I have brought teams to and taken plenty of stick. “From that point of view, it is a difficult place to come and we need to get that back where teams look at coming to Mansfield Town as a real tough afternoon.” On the Stags fans, he added: “They can be massive. “We said it at Rotherham we needed them to get behind it, to believe in it and to want it as bad as we did. “We had some special times there. I can remember the chairman once telling his son at Rotherham that eventually he had found a manager who wants to win more than he did and I reminded John Radford of that conversation on Monday when we met and he said he would find it difficult to find someone who wanted to win as much as he does. “Between the four of us here we have got real passion to win football matches, but ultimately there will be no more passion than who sits in the seats and watches their team, so we need everyone to buy into that passion.” Evans has been out of the game since leaving Leeds United in the summer but said: “I think it was time to come back into the game. “It was great to have a break. I’ve not had a break in 17/18 years and the last six or seven years have been incredibly successful. “We had opportunities to go in (to new clubs) within days and weeks of leaving Elland Road, but we never felt right. “So we have used the time to go and study clubs in the Premier League, Germany and France, and Italy as well as cutting the grass and playing golf and all the nonsense stuff that you do. “It’s been good to have a break, but now it’s time to go to work.” By co-incidence, Stags face Evans’ former club Crawley Town at home on Saturday. ----------------- New boss Evans meets his Stags squad for first time chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS New Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans today met up with his new squad for the first time, but said there would be no big speeches. He also revealed that he had been one of the managers whom former Stags boss Adam Murray had called upon for advice. “We met one or two players who were in for treatment as we arrived, but we will meet the squad today,” he said. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/new-boss-evans-meets-his-stags-squad-for-first-time-1-8243944 “There is not time for big speeches. “The one thing that has happened here is a young man everyone regarded highly, Adam, has lost his job. “He is a young man who phoned me when I was both at Rotherham and at Leeds to take advice on certain things and player situations and he is someone I have a lot of respect for. “Someone has lost their job. So there is no reason for big speeches. “They have lost a coach they thought highly of and you don’t get respect in football, you earn it. So we will meet the players and try to get ready for Saturday.” He added: “They wanted me to give everyone a chance and the transfer windows dictate that now. So we can come in and really assess it. “You always pre-judge players because you have them play for you or against you. But we really have the opportunity over the next six weeks to assess them fully.” Evans’ first opposition will be his former club, Crawley Town (Saturday, 3pm). “We had massive success there,” he said. “We took Crawley from joint bottom of the Conference to almost to the verge of League One.” ------------------- Tough task but Evans convinced Stags can achieve promotion this season chad.co.uk, by John Lomas Despite arriving with the club 18th in League Two, new Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans is convinced the club can still gain promotion this season. Stags are still only three points off the top seven ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Crawley and when asked if Stags could go up this time around, Evans said: “Yes, but it is going to be tough and we are going to have to have the odd refereeing decision going in our favour - which will be the first in six years! “We are going to have to deliver some big results. You look at the size and tradition of some of the clubs in the league. “But we wouldn’t have come here if we didn’t believe we could have a successful season. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/tough-task-but-evans-convinced-stags-can-achieve-promotion-this-season-1-8245905 “We come also with a bit of realism to know it’s going to be tough. “But if you were starting out at the start of the season and picking the top five or six clubs that you would join if you were a player, Mansfield Town would be one of them. “We have total respect for the clubs at the top end of this league who are playing, the Portsmouths, the Plymouths, the Lutons, but we want to be in and among them. Football is a marathon so let’s see where we are in January.” Evans initially faces two home games, where Stags have struggled to perform all season, but said he didn’t care where the points came. “We have the same amount of away games as home games and it’s about an amalgamation of points,” he said. “We got promoted at Rotherham United with a not great home record but an absolutely fantastic away record. “At the end of the season we were celebrating year-upon-year promotions, so it takes just a points accumulation. That’s tough to get in a league with some wonderful clubs.” Most Stags fans are delighted to see a manager of Evans’ experience and record of success join the club, though he is aware he not everyone’s cup of tea. “Just give us an opportunity,” he said. “I said it at Elland Road to the Leeds United supporters and I think at the end they were appreciative of what we did. “I took over a club at Rotherham United that were very similar to Mansfield Town in every shape - a great chairman, someone that is going to back the success - and a passionate support. “So come and get behind the team. There will be good days and there will be down days - there always is. “But we are going to live and breathe this project. It would have been easier to take a club at a higher level going into a battle and situation that’s not quite level. “But I wanted to go back to almost the situation at Rotherham where I worked with a very calming influence and was allowed almost to dictate what we did on a daily basis.” Evans continued: “I think my representatives were talking to two or three clubs. We’ve been talking to a number of clubs since the summer, but it’s not about any other club now, it’s about Mansfield Town. “If we’d have been 18th and 12/15 points off the play-offs I think the chairman might have had a harder job. “But, as you’d expect, when the chairman made the call to me, it was very evident how the league table was and what the opportunity is.” ----------------- Can Mansfield Town get promoted? I do believe it, says new boss Steve Evans By Barry_Cooper, November 16, 2016, nottinghampost.com They say a week is a long time in football, well how about 48 hours? That's how long it took Mansfield Town chairman John Radford to convince Steve Evans to swap gardening and golf for League Two and the One Call Stadium. From a phone call while on his way to Waitrose on Monday afternoon to a meeting later that evening, the former Leeds United boss was then today being paraded on the Mansfield pitch as the club's new manager and instantly targeting promotion. With nine promotions already on his CV, the fiery Scotsman wasted no time in issuing a rallying call to Stags supporters ahead of his first game on Saturday, which ironically comes against one of Evans' former clubs, Crawley Town. The 54-year-old laid out his plans to move Mansfield away from the bottom end of League Two and into the promotion reckoning. Read more at http://www.nottinghampost.com/can-mansfield-town-get-promoted-i-do-believe-it-says-new-boss-steve-evans/story-29909080-detail/story.html#1euAss2vWzFzRARK.99 "I do believe it," he said when quizzed about his bullish belief that Mansfield can win promotion this season. The Stags find themselves in 18th place after a 4-0 defeat at Portsmouth last weekend, which saw Adam Murray depart earlier this week. But with the club just three points off the top seven in League Two, Evans believes that with the support of chairman John and chief executive Carolyn Radford, they can get the club promoted. Evans told the Post: "Very much like Tony Stewart (his chairman at Rotherham United), the Radfords are very ambitious people. They are willing to back it, to invest appropriately. "People laughed when I said that I could deliver promotion at Rotherham. "We were in mid-table at Rotherham with probably one paddle lost on the boat, but we got ourselves back in shape. "If we take six points from the next two games we'll be in the play-offs." Having left Elland Road at the end of last season, Evans says he had received offers to return to football, but nothing took his fancy - that was until he took the call from the Stags chairman. "I got told many moons ago by Sir Alex Ferguson, pick your club by your chairman. Don't pick it by the size of the crowd, don't pick it because of a new stadium, pick it by the chairman," he said. "Can he provide for you, when you need him to, the resources to make the team better? And that was the advice he gave me." Dropping from the Championship into League Two may raise an eyebrow or two from some, but not Evans, who believes the Mansfield project is something to excite him - and Radford was key to that. "The opportunity to come and work for the Radford family, was crucial to why I came here," he added. As the dust settled on quite a day at One Call Stadium, Evans left it to the supporters to get behind the club - and with two home games in four days, the Glaswegian acknowledged the need to hit the ground running to get fans believing. "There will be great excitement until the first game, but then you have to win matches. It's about the next game, giving the team identity and make this (the One Call Stadium) a fortress," he said. "They are good people here, like at Crawley, Rotherham, Leeds, and they can get behind us and help move us forward." And as club directors sipped champagne in the Kevin Bird Suite, you could sense a sense of achievement at the capture of Evans, one which they hope will pay off. ------------------ New Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans claims he was 'close' to joining Nottingham Forest By Barry_Cooper, nottinghampost.com The Staffordshire countryside might be famed for being home to St George's Park, but it's also where Steve Evans agreed to take over at Mansfield Town. Whether by luck or something more astute, Stags chief executive Carolyn Radford decided to take the former Leeds United boss to the same hotel where he proposed to his wife, Sarah-Jane. The 54-year-old Scotsman penned a two-year deal at One Call Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, after a whirlwind 48-hours that saw Evans go from a shopping trip to Waitrose to manager of the League Two club. To many in football who no longer become surprised at anything they see, may well have battered an eye lid or two at the announcement about Evans' latest managerial move. After leaving Elland Road in the summer, having silenced one or two of his many detractors, Evans was the subject of much speculation and may well have expected another crack at the Championship. Having seen his stock rise given an almost impossible situation under Whites supremo Massimo Cellino, the Glaswegian was one of numerous men linked with a move to the City Ground before the club appointed Philippe Montanier on the first day of pre-season. At one stage, Evans was the clear favourite with the bookies' to replace Dougie Freedman - although the club took the highly unusual step of issuing a public statement saying he was not a candidate for the position, at the time. But speaking to the Post after being unveiled as the new Stags boss, the Scot said: "I could have taken a Championship club within weeks, within two weeks of coming out of Leeds but it was going to be a fire fight. Read more at http://www.nottinghampost.com/8203-new-mansfield-town-boss-steve-evans-reveals-how-close-he-came-to-joining-nottingham-forest/story-29911550-detail/story.html?#jgzhA81PFdJ7grqi.99 "And in my opinion, that club would have been relegated. "I still believe that, especially looking at the league table today." When Evans was given the job in West Yorkshire last October, few could quite believe Cellino's latest move, but it was something the ex-Rotherham boss was never going to walk away from. "There's not a man on the planet who could turn down Leeds United, it's very similar to Nottingham Forest," he said. "They are iconic football clubs. "When they come calling and want you to go there, you have to go there." When asked if he came close to taking the City Ground job before it went to Frenchman Montanier, Evans said "yes." "My representatives told me that." He continued: "The way modern day football works is and supporters probably think it was unusual for me to get a direct call from John Radford, normally your representatives are talking to people and you go forward and they tell you that the business side of it is done and you go and talk football." But just how close was the City Ground hotseat to Evans? He revealed: "It was close, but other teams in the Championship I was closer to joining." Since his rolling contract expired at Elland Road, the former Whites boss has been enjoying golf, gardening and spending some much needed time with his family, and he believes that after almost two decades working in the cut and thrust of football, he had to have a spell away from the game to recharge those batteries. "The first thing I looked for when I left Leeds, was I needed a break. I'd not had a break in 19 years," he said. "Working for Leeds United is an honour," said the Glasgow-born boss. "It's an absolute honour and a privilege. They're an iconic football club, and though the president (Massimo Cellino) decided not to go forward with me, I put a lot of things in place that he liked. "Garry Monk has come in and added to them, even more superbly if you like and I was off my couch when young (Ronaldo) Vieira scored the winner at Norwich earlier this month." And it's those youngsters that Evans sees as pivotal to Mansfield Town's success this season and further on into his two-and-a-half-year deal, including Forest's young defender Alex Iacovitti, on loan at One Call Stadium and midfielder Jack Thomas. "Well, they're important," Evans said of Town's young players. "Some of our legacy at Leeds, when you see young Lewis Coyle, young Ronaldo Vieira who got the winner at Norwich, he's been special and some of the players that we've identified and some of the younger ones they've brought in since like Kemar Roofe, so we're very much a believer in young talent. "But as a head coach, I don't care whether they're 16 or 36, the one thing that everybody can identify with and I genuinely mean this, I felt it at Leeds United more than any other club I've had in my career, is young, home grown players. "If they're good enough, young and local, then that's even better. "Big (Darius) Henderson's decent, always gave my teams a problem, young (Patrick) Hoban is decent. "There's good players here. "What we need to do is give them a bit of confidence, a bit of belief. "Me and Paul Raynor (assistant manager) are the straightest managers on the planet, we tell people straight, good or bad. "The wonderful thing is those players can go home every night with no secrets, everyone very focussed, know their jobs meticulously and what they need to achieve. "We'll concentrate on working hard." As is often the case in football, Evans' first game will see him come up against a club he enjoyed great success at, Crawley Town on Saturday - the first of two home games in four days. And Evans is hoping those supporters who used to abuse him in the away dugout during his trips to north Nottinghamshire, will be the ones singing his name as he plots a course towards League One. "My CV tells people I've got an idea, if I was a supporter, I'd be pleased with the appointment." Given the reaction since the Radfords' appointment, they certainly are. ------------------ Chairman: gates should rise after new appointment mansfieldtown.net Stags' chairman John Radford expects home attendances to increase after landing in-demand Steve Evans as the club's new boss yesterday. The 54-year-old Scot, a winner of nine promotions, was unveiled yesterday at a packed news conference at One Call Stadium. And writing in Saturday's match programme, the club's owner John Radford said the home attendances should shoot up following the news: "This appointment underlines the club’s high ambitions and will generate huge excitement in and around the Town. I also want and expect the attendances to rise as we enter into this new exciting era. "Carolyn said recently in a media interview that this is the most significant appointment in the club’s modern history and who can argue with that? We now have a manager with a proven track record of success who will be a great ambassador for our club." Speaking at the news conference yesterday, Mr Radford felt that, after Adam Murray’s departure, it was time to move on from the club’s habit of appointing from within the setup, particularly when a manager of the calibre of Steve Evans was available. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/chairman-pleased-to-land-manager-in-demand-3420284.aspx#zR2myUIrYBHdgW33.99 “We’re an ambitious club and Steve’s an ambitious manager,” Mr Radford said. “In the past we’ve always looked to someone already in the club, and obviously they’ve needed to have had some success here first. “We knew Steve was out there and I had his number, I thought I’ll give it a shot and give him a call. I managed to get the meeting with him and it all happened so quickly.” Mr Radford knew the club had to act swiftly, with Evans a manager in high demand, and left their Monday evening meeting impressed with the manager-to-be. “We got on really well, he could see our ambition and we could see his. “We knew there were other clubs interested and we knew he liked Mansfield, we played on that a bit too, and we knew the passion was there.” At Evans’ unveiling on Wednesday afternoon, the former Crawley Town manager was quick to praise Mr Radford and declared his influence as the reason for joining. “It was nice to hear he chose Mansfield because of me, but it’s not just me, it’s because of our fans and our setup behind-the-scenes. “He knows Mansfield fans are excellent and he wants to drive the club forward and we’ll be here cheering him on.” Evans was also quick to speak of the prospect of promotion at Mansfield, with the Stags currently three points outside the play-off places and the chairman shares the new manager’s beliefs and says the current squad that has been built has the potential to succeed. “I love the confidence and I hope he can achieve promotion and I definitely think we can. “It’s the same as Steve says, he has to evaluate what’s here and no-one’s going to lose out or anything. Adam has put together a quality side and they now have to prove themselves until January (when the transfer window opens) where we can sit down and look forward.” Now Mr Radford is looking forward to seeing the new manager’s impact in his first game at One Call Stadium, with the Stags taking on Evans’ former side Crawley Town on Saturday and the chairman says he will back his man all the way. “I’ll give him time and he’s an ambitious manager. If he can achieve what he feels he can he’ll have my support.” Tickets can be bought via http://www.stagstickets.co.uk or by calling 01623 482 482. Ticket details can be found here. ------------------- New Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans ‘was on his way to Waitrose’ when he got the call By Mathias Balslev http://nottstv.com/new-mansfield-town-manager-steve-evans-was-on-his-way-to-waitrose-when-he-got-the-call/ Video: Steve Evans in his first interview as Mansfield Town manager New Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans said ‘he was on his way to Waitrose’ when he received a call from the chairman of the football club. The former Leeds United and Rotherham boss was unveiled as the new manager of Mansfield Town yesterday (Wednesday November 16) at the One Call Stadium. Evans replaces Adam Murray who only left the club on Monday (November 14). I was on my way to do some shopping when the chairman called In his first press conference as Mansfield Town manager, Evans said: “I don’t normally answer my mobile phone when it comes up with a number that I don’t recognise! “I was on my way to Waitrose to do some shopping and it was the chairman on the other end of the phone on Monday afternoon asking if we could get together that evening. “We need to get it back to where teams look at coming to Mansfield Town as a tough afternoon.” -------------------- Assistant Raynor excited by Stags project chad.co.uk, by John Lomas New Mansfield Town assistant boss Paul Raynor said he and manager Steve Evans were a perfect double act. Raynor, 50, is a Nottingham-born ex-Forest striker who has been Evans’ right hand man at every club he has been at and the pair have enjoyed immense success. “It’s a return home for me,” he said. “I’ve been away since I was 19 when I left Forest for the first time and it’s nice to come back to the county. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/assistant-raynor-excited-by-stags-project-1-8245922 “I am very excited. It’s a great project, a big project, but one we are really looking forward to.” On manager Evans, he said: “We keep winning lots of football matches. “There is never a dull moment. We have our battles but we seem to bounce off each other and work well together. “He lets me have pretty much a free rein on the training field. I am able to get hands on with the coaching and it’s a good partnership. “It’s not all sweetness and light, we do have our battles, but for the main aim of being successful and it seems to work.” Evans paid tribute to his No.2, saying: “He is a major part of why we have been successful over the years. “Paul describes his role as filling in the gaps but that undermines what he really does.” ------------------ @ltphys Lee Taylor (fitness coach) ltphysThe Coach LT' is back in Professional Football in the EFL' @mansfieldtownfc in L2.. looking forward to a big start with the Gaffa & Raynes tomorrow @ St Georges Park to take our first training session #coach #performance #football #mansfieldtownfc #EFL #soccer #UK #strength #strengthandconditioning #smashmode #LTphys #physiofixsportsperformance ---------------- |
Latest | November 2016