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Archived News from May 2017

STAGS SIGN PAUL DIGBY
20th May 2017 22:35


Stags snap up versatile former Ipswich man
mansfieldtown.net, 16th May 2017

Mansfield Town have continued their summer recruitment with the impressive acquisition of former England under 20s defender Paul Digby.

Digby joins the Stags after leaving Championship side Ipswich Town at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

Born in Sheffield, the 22-year-old progressed through the ranks of the Barnsley academy and was handed his first team debut aged just 16, becoming the Tykes’ fourth youngest ever player.

He appeared four times for the Oakwell club in the 2011/12 season, including a Man-of-the-Match display against Birmingham City.

Digby played on a handful of occasions in each of the following two season as Barnsley allowed him to flourish in their under 18s and under 21s sides, as well as spending time with England under 19s and under 20s.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/stags-snap-up-versatile-former-ipswich-man-3717561.aspx#7UhxTzUbcJ41b6WT.99

He made his under 19s debut in August 2013 and scored his only international goal three months later in a 4-1 win over Hungary.

Digby played 13 times in the 2014/15 season in League One, before joining Ipswich Town on loan for the second half of the 2015/16 season.

The 6ft 4in former Barnsley man was utilised as a defender in Suffolk, but is expected to be used as a central midfielder at One Call Stadium.

After impressing Tractor Boys’ boss Mick McCarthy, Ipswich made his loan move a permanent one ahead of the 2016/17 season, a campaign in which the club finished their Championship season in 16th position.

"I'm really excited to be here," said Digby. "It's a club with great ambitions for next season, with a good manager in place and great owners. I'm delighted to be here.

"There's a real optimism around the club and that excites you as a player. You want to be fighting for promotions.

"The manager has won nine promotions and that speaks for itself. He knows how to get the best out of his team. Now I've signed, I can't wait to get started."

The deal is subject to EFL approval.

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Stags' challenge excites newest recruit
mansfieldtown.net

Stags’ latest signing Paul Digby says he is excited by the challenge ahead of him after putting pen-to-paper at One Call Stadium earlier today.

The 6ft 4in midfielder became Stags’ second signing of the day after we announced the acquisition of striker Jimmy Spencer, following his departure from Plymouth Argyle.

Digby has joined the Stags from Championship side Ipswich Town as manager Steve Evans continues his recruitment during the close season.

And Digby, 22, is relishing the challenge of helping the club to launch a promotion bid in the 2017/18 season.

“I think it’s a great challenge and they’re ambitious,” Digby said.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/stags-challenge-excites-newest-recruit-3718080.aspx#EkHms3ujCJmlI46k.99

“They (Stags) want to win every game, that’s what I’ve been hearing, and they want to get promoted straight away so I think the challenge is a great challenge to have.

“As soon as the season finished I was contacted straight away and was told of the club’s ambitions and how optimistic they are of the season ahead and excited me and really motivated me to want to come here.

“I spoke with a lot of players who played [in] League Two and I’ve played [against] League Two teams as well and it’s a tough league.

“You’ve got to work hard and you’ve got to be at your best every game, every single game. That motivates me to be at my best every week and I can’t wait to get going.”

The Barnsley academy product was utilised mainly as a centre-half by Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy and although he admits he didn’t play as much as he would have liked, he used his time there to educate himself by learning from members of the Tractor Boys’ excellent squad.

“Even though I’ve not been playing as much as I would have liked, I’ve still gone in every day and given 100 percent and been 'like a sponge' really.

“[I have] learnt a lot off the great players there and I had a good chat with the gaffer there and we thought it was right that I go out now and play games.

“Coming here, it’s a great platform for me to play games, have real influence at the club and give my all for Mansfield.”

The 22-year-old has played both in the centre of defence and the middle of midfield in his career so far and manager Steve Evans is expected to deploy him in the Stags’ midfield, a proposition that enthuses the Sheffield-born man.

“I went to Ipswich off the back of a trial at Man United when I played centre-half and there has been different things between different managers; who sees me as a centre-half, who sees me as a centre-mid. I feel comfortable going in and playing either.

“I’ve done it at Championship level where I’ve played at centre-mid and at centre-half and I feel comfortable doing that but I feel here, I spoke with the gaffer and he said straight away ‘centre-mid’ and I was delighted with that.

“I feel that’s where I can add more to the team and that’s where I think I play my best football as well.”

Supporters can watch Paul Digby’s first club interview exclusively on Stags PlayerHD.

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Digby Joins Mansfield
twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news, Tuesday, 16th May 2017
Released Blues defender or midfielder Paul Digby has joined League Two Mansfield Town.

Digby was told that Town would not be taking up an option for a further year on his contract towards the end of the season having signed for the Blues from Barnsley on a free transfer last summer following a loan spell during the second half of the previous campaign.

“He has had a lot of competition and he needs to go and play," manager Mick McCarthy said when announcing Digby's departure.

"There’s no point in him traipsing around sitting on the bench, sitting in the stand watching us, he needs to go and play some football.

“I think Diggers will have a career then somewhere but he’s not going to play in my first team if Chambo’s still here and Tommy Smith and Adam Webster, he’s not going to play in front of them.”

The 22-year-old is pleased to be joining the Stags, who are managed by former Boston, Crawley, Rotherham and Leeds boss Steve Evans.

In total, Digby made seven starts and five sub appearances for the Blues without scoring.

See more at: http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/31693/#sthash.JKKvfppB.dpuf

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Latest | May 2017