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Archived News from May 2017

STAGS REFUSE SWINDON PERMISSION TO SPEAK TO EVANS
20th May 2017 22:34


Club statement
mansfieldtown.net, 15th May 2017

Mansfield Town FC can this afternoon confirm that chairman John Radford has refused Swindon Town permission to speak to manager Steve Evans.

Chairman John Radford said: “Steve is fully committed to Mansfield Town Football Club and we will allow for no distractions as we set about our work to mount a serious promotion challenge in 2017-18.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/club-statement-3716711.aspx#bQetMLIjoCT3EAky.99

“I have refused Swindon Town permission to talk to our manager, who is under contract at One Call Stadium, and work continues behind the scenes at our club as we put together a squad which we believe will be highly competitive in Sky Bet League Two next season.

"Steve has my full backing ahead of next season as we aim to fulfil the dreams of a town and its people.

“There is a tremendous buzz around One Call Stadium right now as we build for next season. I encourage the people of the county to back Steve and his soon-to-be new look squad by purchasing a season ticket for 2017-18, which have already been very well received by our supporters."

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twitter Carolyn Radford @CarolynRadford, 15th May 2017
As CEO of our club I make our position very clear: Steve Evans is staying at Mansfield Town.

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Swindon Town have had an approach to speak to Mansfield boss Steve Evans about County Ground managerial vacancy rejected by Stags
swindonadvertiser.co.uk, by Matthew Edwards

SWINDON Town have had an approach to speak to Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans rejected, the Nottinghamshire club confirmed this afternoon.

The 54-year-old Scot is Town's number one target for the vacancy left by the departure of head coach Luke Williams earlier this month, with the Advertiser reporting earlier this afternoon that they had approached the Stags to speak to Evans about the role and were ready to put a deal on the table.

However, Mansfield chairman John Radford confirmed this afternoon that he had refused Swindon permission to speak to Evans.

Radford said: “Steve is fully committed to Mansfield Town Football Club and we will allow for no distractions as we set about our work to mount a serious promotion challenge in 2017-18.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/15286909.UPDATED__Mansfield_refuse_Town_permission_to_speak_to_Evans/

“I have refused Swindon Town permission to talk to our manager, who is under contract at One Call Stadium, and work continues behind the scenes at our club as we put together a squad which we believe will be highly competitive in Sky Bet League Two next season.

"Steve has my full backing ahead of next season as we aim to fulfil the dreams of a town and its people.

“There is a tremendous buzz around One Call Stadium right now as we build for next season. I encourage the people of the county to back Steve and his soon-to-be new look squad by purchasing a season ticket for 2017-18, which have already been very well received by our supporters."

Evans is currently under contract with the Stags, with two years remaining on his current deal and could be in line for a large bonus should he steer Mansfield to League One next season, having narrowly missed out on the play-offs after only taking charge last November.

Evans is good friends with Town chairman Lee Power from their time together at Boston United, where Evans was manager at the time and brought the former Norwich City striker to the then-Southern League club for a fee of £25,000 from Halifax Town.

Stags chairman Radford held talks with Evans last week and has given his manager his full backing, promising a budget to compete for promotion in League Two, after Evans aired his concerns earlier this month.

He has already started to make good on that promise, making goalkeeper Conrad Logan their first signing of the summer and adding defender Zander Diamond from Northampton Town last week.

However, Power appears determined to right the wrongs of last season and has indicated that he wants to appoint Williams’ replacement by the end of this week, promising the incumbent a budget to work with and 100 per cent control of the club’s recruitment policy, a complete U-turn on seasons gone past.


twitter Matt Edwards @Matt_r_Edwards
Also led to believe that Steve Evans is on a sizeable contract, with 2 years left, at Mansfield, which includes large promotion bonus #stfc

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LATER ARTICLE RE SWINDON CHAIRMAN
Swindon Town chairman Lee Power admits to 'hiccups' in search for new boss after relegation to League Two
BY Owen Houlihan, 20 May 2017
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/15299072.Power_focused_on_right_person_as_Town_manager_field_narrows/?ref=twtrec

SWINDON Town chairman Lee Power admits League Two is proving a tough sell in his search for a new manager, with the shortlist for the County Ground hotseat now down to three names.

Power has reiterated his pledge that the new boss will have "100 per cent control of the football side'' but conceded their had been "a few hiccups'' in his hunt, with the courting of Mansfield Town chief Steve Evans now at an end.

The Town supremo had wanted to have a manager in place by the end of this week but, speaking to BBC Wiltshire this afternoon, stressed that getting the right person in place to ensure the club's stay at the bottom level of the EFL was as short as possible superceded any need for speed over such an appointment.

Town approached Mansfield for permission to speak to Evans earlier this week, a request rebuffed by the Stags, while ex-Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill and former Town player Adi Viveash are among those to rule themselves out of contention for the post.

Power, who parted company with head coach Luke Williams earlier this month, said: "We'd have hoped to have had something a little bit more close than we are by this time, but there have been a few hiccups.

"I had a shortlist drawn up of a few people I wanted to speak to and one or two of those have been spoken to, but there's some other people that I would still like to speak to and others we haven't been given the opportunity to so you have to move on there.

Power conceded Evans' lower-league promotion experience had been a big draw for consideration for the role and while Town's reduced league status may have precluded some candidates from the reckoning, the chairman believes the County Ground post still represents an enticing opportunity.

"We're trying to look for people with experience and people we think can get us out of this league,'' he added.

"Steve (Evans) has had a lot of promotions and he was one of the people we would have liked to have the opportunity (to speak to).

"Obviously he's under contract at Mansfield and we have to ask for permission on that and that wasn't given so we have to move on there and go through the rest of the list.

"League Two is obviously not a great help. Like in any business you try and take people from a higher level and that (League Two) is a concern for a lot of people.

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