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Archived News from May 2017

EVANS EXPECTS TOP 6 BUDGET + CRAWLEY PREVIEWS
8th May 2017 20:59


Evans expects a top six budget at Stags this summer
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 04 May 2017

Steve Evans expects to be given a ‘top six budget’ this summer to help guide Mansfield Town to promotion if they miss out this season.

The manager was assured when he joined the club in November that he would be given the same backing he was given at Crawley Town and Rotherham United where he took both club sup two divisions. Evans knows what he needs and where to go for success and expects chairman John Radford to be true to his word.

Evans said: “When we joined the chairman said the summer would be the time he’d make sure I got the support I got at the likes of Crawley, which was up there with the best budgets in the league, and Rotherham, which was not the best budget but certainly top six.

“We need a top six budget or in reality there is no point in me staying. But the chairman is an honest man.”

The current playing staff will be told if they are being retained next week, assuming they fail to make the play-offs at Crawley on Saturday.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-expects-a-top-six-budget-at-stags-this-summer-1-8527455

“The players have today been allocated a time for next Wednesday,” said Evans.

“I hope to meet with the chairman and chief executive on Tuesday.

“We need to review our time here, have a review of the playing staff and recommendations and proposals for whose gets contract options taken up and who is let go.

“That dialogue has been going on week by week with the chairman and chief executive anyway, so there will be no shocks. “The good thing is we seem to be in agreement.”

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Stags must win and look after themselves at Crawley warns boss Evans as finale nears
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 04 May 2017

Steve Evans said it would be unthinkable and unbearable were other results to go Mansfield Town’s way and they fail to win at Crawley Town on Saturday (5.30pm).

Stags go into the final weekend in 12th place, two points off the play-off places and need a win at Evans’ former club combined with four of five other results to go their way.

It’s a tall order but far from impossible and Evans admitted: “It would be unthinkable and probably unbearable in my head if we don’t look after ourselves and results elsewhere meant if we’d won at Crawley we’d be in the play-offs. We have to do our best.

“It is a slim chance, but we have go to take that chance if others don’t look after themselves.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-must-win-and-look-after-themselves-at-crawley-warns-boss-evans-as-finale-nears-1-8527407

“I don’t think the top seven we see in the league table today will be the top seven come 9pm Saturday when we are all done and dusted.

“We have just got to go and put on a good performance. It will be tough. They have played well without getting the results and they have some good players and a manager I respect highly.”

Possibly the least likely score to go Mansfield’s way will be relegated Orient at Blackpool.

Evans said: “The boys at Leyton Orient will be honest and have a go. But do I think they can go and win at Blackpool? No.”

He added: “I have said to the players if we can’t finish in the top seven then let’s finish eighth.

“The boys have done marvellous to keep us in this situation to go right to the last day.

“We will travel properly and go down tomorrow. We’ll do everything right. There won’t be many changes as we’re going to try to win the game.”

After Evans took Crawley from the Conference to League One, it could not have been scripted better for him to enjoy a fairytale last day at his old club and get into the top seven.

“It could still happen,” he smiled. “I had a lot of success at a good club with great people.

“A lot of the people have changed now and there’s probably only two or three people there now in the whole club that were there when I was.

“But the supporters are great people and they have given me a wonderful reception on the times I have been back there.”

Evans has many good memories of his time at Crawley.

“When you go in as manager at a football club that’s stayed up in the National League on goal difference one season and two years later they are playing in League One you have delivered some success to that club,” he said.

“It wasn’t just me. There were some wonderful people - the Winfield family, the Carter family, the supporters who turned up in ever-increasing numbers. Their average crowd was 1,700 and when we left at 4-5,000.

“I still have family down there. My brother still lives down there with his family and if nothing else I look forward to sharing a beer with him Saturday evening before we make the long trip back.

“Success is hard to achieve. Prizes are hard to win in football as so many people want them. But we had some wonderful success at Crawley - not just promotions but with two cup runs in two years we went to the fifth round of the FA Cup twice and lost to Manchester United and Stoke City - some wonderful memories that will be there forever.

“We are looking forward to Saturday, seeing what it brings and, if it doesn’t bring the results we want, I will be sitting down with the chairman and chief executive on Tuesday and we’ll outline the plans between us and hopefully shake hands to go and have an assault and get promoted next season.”

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Evans aims to act swiftly in transfer market
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Steve Evans is expecting to sign some if not all of his major targets before the end of May. The Mansfield Town boss also said he would not hang around waiting on players who would not commit. The current season ends at Crawley Town on Saturday, but Evans is wasting no time at all. “I will be meeting players this week,” he said. “In terms of the permanent signings there will be very few done in the latter part of the window. The majority will be done in the next two or three weeks. “Certainly if I am here that will be the case. I think if you are a management team and you are dragging your signings into July and August, that tells me you don’t know what you’re doing.” Evans will not settle for second best on the players he wants to bring in. “We all have lists of certain players we’d like to sign,” he said. “But we have no B listers. Every one that we go for, I am sure if we go there properly we’ll attract them here.” He also said he was not one of those managers who constantly move ‘deadlines’ in the hope of landing their man. “Those managers probably get sacked in October,” he said. “You have to be fair. I have a practice in my family which is ‘just treat people as you like to be treated’. “I think it’s perfectly reasonable to meet a player within a week or so of the end of the season, outline your plans as a club that wants to recruit them, speak to his representatives, make your considered options over finance. “Then I think it’s perfectly fair to say you have ‘X’ days and we’ll have a chat. If that looks like you’re still getting stalled then you just shut the window and go to the next window. “We are not going to be a club that’s chasing a player for five weeks and keep giving him time because his agent is ringing up every other club trying to get him a deal.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-aims-to-act-swiftly-in-transfer-market-1-8528140

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Stags in a good position to negotiate with current players - Evans
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans has praised predecessor Adam Murray’s decision to make sure the club has options on all their current players with no one able to simply walk away. Next Wednesday looks set to see the retained list revealed and Evans said: “The loan players will go back to their respective clubs to sort their futures and then we have a blank canvas to keep everyone else. “Everyone has an option on them. No one can walk out the club, that’s the good thing. “I have been critical of the previous recruitment, but the strategy of making sure the club has an option to extend the players’ contacts has been a good one as it gives us an element of power in being able to keep these players. “But I don’t think there is a player in that dressing room that doesn’t want to be here when we walk back in at the end of June. They all want to be here - and so they should. “Some of the players have been outstanding since we came in - a few we inherited, a few we signed - and I think there are some big performances still to come from the likes of Alex MacDonald, who’s getting better, and Alfie Potter, who’s getting fitter. I think Joel Byrom has been terrific for us.” Many managers think telling players they are no longer wanted is the worst part of their job. But Evans said: “I don’t find it the worst part of the job. The worst part is at 5pm when you’ve just got beat. But it’s never a nice part - even if you’re telling seasoned professionals there is no contract. “There will always be a club for them. I don’t think there is any player that we will move on that won’t get a club. It’s always a difficult conversation to have, but we have always done it very professionally.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-in-a-good-position-to-negotiate-with-current-players-evans-1-8528425

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Costly referee decisions hard to take for Stags boss
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

The old adage that refereeing decisions even out will not wash with Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans this season. A series of decisions against his club in recent weeks have seen precious points lost. Ahead of Saturday’s final day trip to Crawley Town, he said: “I think since the turn of the year, when they say big decisions in games from match officials even or level themselves out over a season, well we are about 6-0 down at the minute and it’s hard to take. “The head of referees spent Monday and Tuesday apologising. He is a good man. But his apologies don’t get the decision back so we just have to move on.” Evans knows he can be a thorn in officials’ sides with his vociferous management. But he said: “I don’t think it makes any difference to Klopp, Conte or Mourinho. I have sat behind them in games and they are very passionate. They care. “I am not saying the referees that we’ve had in this games who have given things against us are bad referees. But the concentration and focus in their minds needs to be to get the big decisions right. “If I go and query them, they always say didn’t your striker miss a chance or your midfielder miss a chance? “But my answer is if they keep doing that they will be out. It’s as simple as that.” He added: “We want good referees and we want to support them. I know how difficult their job is. It’s why I visit referees’ associations and give them a manager’s view. “At this stage of the season they go under the microscope more as people can see a light at the end of a tunnel.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/costly-referee-decisions-hard-to-take-for-stags-boss-1-8528434

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Stags will go ‘1,000mph’ in crucial game at Crawely promises Bennett
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 04 May 2017

Mansfield Town defender Rhys Bennett assured supporters the players would go ‘1,000mph’ at Crawley for a win this Saturday in a last ditch bid to make the play-offs.

Last weekend’s unfortunate 1-0 home defeat by Portsmouth means even a win may not be enough for the Stags if other results go against them.

Stags were beaten by a deflected goal last weekend and Bennett admitted: “It was hard to take, especially the way the game played out. I thought we created enough chances to win the game and I thought we were resolute a defence.

“Their goal took a nick off me and obviously diverted over Jake (Kean), so that’s that. “It was unfortunate, but we played well, could have won the game and probably should have won the game.” That leaves Mansfield having to make sure they win and hope four of five other games get the result needed. “Now we’ve got to go to Crawley and we’ve got to win - that’s all we can do,” he said. “There will be people keeping an eye on the other results but as players we just need to go there and win. There’s no sitting back.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-will-go-1-000mph-in-crucial-game-at-crawely-promises-bennett-1-8527415

“As professionals you want to finish the season well. You want to go on your holidays reflecting back on a good performance.

“It’s nice to still be involved in the play-off scenario going into the last game. We will go there and give it our all.”

Whether they go up or not, Mansfield have enjoyed a tremendous second half to the season since Steve Evans was installed as manager in November.

“I feel since the gaffer’s come in we’ve done well as a team and shown top end of the play-offs form if not automatic promotion form so we’ve just got to carry that on,” said Bennett.

“It shows the transformation we’ve had as a team and as a group of players. That’s great going forward.

“Confidence is a big thing in football. The gaffer has come in and instilled confidence in the players and also we have more confidence as a team. Winning games breeds confidence so that’s pretty explanatory.” Bennett began the season as right back and was then moved to centre half, but said: “I am a football player so I like playing football. I really love the game no matter what position I am in on the pitch.” Bennett, who this week was named Chad Readers’ Stags Player of the Year, will also reach a landmark of he pays the full game at Crawley, becoming the only Stags player this season to play every minute of every game.

“It’s nice,” he smiled. “ I like to be there to help the team so it’s nice to be able to play every game personally, but I don’t really think about it to be honest.”

The last Stags player to achieve that was keeper Alan Marriott in 2009/10 and the last outfield player was Alex John-Baptiste in 2006/07.

Bennett’s contract is up this summer and he and the rest of the players will meet boss Evans next week to see if they are being retained.

“I would love to stay,” said Bennett. “The club have an option on me for next year, so when I speak to the gaffer he will obviously reveal his plans for me.

“I am like any other player, I am just waiting to hear what his plans are for me.

“I don’t really like this time of year. Obviously you create friendships with other players. As footballers we spend quite a lot of time with each other every day so obviously you create friendships and bonds. “To be worrying about your future and to see your team mates possible leave I don’t think it’s a nice time of year. “But it’s part of the profession so we just have to get on with it. You do keep in touch with each other. It’s a good group of lads and we enjoy each other’s company.”

Bennett’s message to supporters ahead of the Crawley trip was: “Every game we are going to give 100 per cent. You saw it last Saturday and you’re going to see it again this Saturday. “We will go 1,00mph for this win on Saturday, so if you can get down and help the boys it could be a great end to the season.”

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Harrold to manage Reds in final game of the season
crawleytownfc.com, Fri 05 May 2017

Matt Harrold will be in the dugout for the final game of the season on Saturday.

The Reds striker has been put in caretaker charge of the team for the home fixture against Mansfield Town (5.30pm) following the departure of Head Coach Dermot Drummy on Thursday.

Matt said: "I was asked to take the team by (director) Selim Gaygusuz and I'm looking forward to it.

"We've got nothing to lose. I will tell the players to go out and enjoy themselves, play with pride and passion and let's see if we can end the season with a positive result with the fans right behind us.

"We could finish as high as 17th with three points so that's a massive incentive for us."

Hear from Matt later in the day on the website and our social media channels.

Read more at http://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/article/2016-17/matt-harrold-crawley-town-3706118.aspx#yYwEtIyi9Qkqr0HT.99

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Management team leave club by mutual consent
crawleytownfc.com

Crawley Town have today parted company with Head Coach Dermot Drummy and his assistant Matt Gray by mutual consent.

The club would like to thank Dermot and Matt for their hard work in the last 13 months and wish them all the best for their future careers.

No further statement from the club will be made today, but club owner Ziya Eren will be holding a media conference tomorrow.

Read more at http://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/article/2016-17/crawley-town-3705341.aspx#oABQMbkvTjdWAcjB.99

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Latest | May 2017