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Archived News from July 2017

EVANS HAS TWO MORE TARGETS
7th July 2017 21:31


Boss in final stages of building squad
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 27 June 2017

Stags' boss Steve Evans is close to concluding his summer transfer business, after revealing that he has given chairman John Radford the names of two further targets.

This morning, rapid frontman Omari Sterling-James became the Stags' 13th signing of the close season as the gaffer added to his attacking areas.

And with the players due to return to pre-season on Thursday 29 June, the boss, in addition to chairman John Radford and CEO Carolyn Radford, is working hard to finalise his squad for the new season.

The gaffer said: "We’re very well equipped but we don’t hide where we’d like to strengthen our group.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/june/boss-in-final-stages-of-building-squad/

"We'd like to strengthen our group in the striker department and maybe centrally behind them.

"[The chairman's] working so hard, as is Carolyn, to try and principally get one done for me. I've got two names on a piece of paper that the chairman's in possession of and if we can't do any of them, we can go as we've got.

"I think people don't know how good [Jimmy] Spencer and [Lee] Angol are - never mind Danny Rose, never mind Omari [Sterling-James].

"If we get that done, we'll be very fortunate and very thankful to our chairman and chief executive and then we'll be ready to go. If it doesn't happen, we could kick-off next week with the squad we've got."

The boss also spoke about a number of other topics at this morning's news conference, including the following:

- Omari Sterling-James: "I had to meet the kid and make sure that he had really 'it' between his eyes but every judge of non-league football I've spoken to - probably since Monday, when I made it known to one or two that we were going to try and complete this deal - was they said we were very fortunate to have him because they thought that he was probably going to go to League One."

- The fixture list: "If we're in that top group after ten games, we'll be in that top group at the end of the season - that is a nailed on certainty. Our start is really, really tough when you consider who we've got.

"It's a tough spell - we've been given a real tough introduction but we have to play everyone home and away."

- Malta and pre-season: "We're very fortunate to be able to go locally to a specialist facility and have two days of complete testing, which will be controlled by our fitness coach Lee Taylor, but myself and Paul will obviously be around the group with the other staff.

"Then on Saturday morning we'll be in to the One Call Stadium for some football work and then give them a day with their families before we depart to Malta.

"They're going to work really hard - it's going to be really intense for them and we'll also get an opportunity to play a little bit of football and we'll also have the opportunity to meet some of the supporters who have spent their hard-earned money going there because Mansfield Town are going there."

Supporters will be able to view the gaffer's news conference, in full, on iFollow Stags.

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Two more new faces on Stags’ shopping list
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, 27 June 2017

Mansfield Town added Omari Sterling-James to their ever-growing squad yesterday with the promise of possibly two more new faces to come.

Boss Steve Evans moved quickly to land the services of the 23-year-old Sterling-James, who is best known as a winger but could be employed by Mansfield down the middle as a quick striker.

However, Stags fans are still desperate to see an experienced goalscorer join the 13 new signings and ahead of tomorrow’s return for pre-season training, Evans said he had two more players on his wanted list - one an out-and-out striker and the other more of a No.10 role behind the centre forward.

“If both said yes, I’d expect to sign both provided the chairman and chief executive agreed, of course,” he said. “For me those two names would just complete the group.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/two-more-new-faces-on-stags-shopping-list-1-8619337

“They are a striker and a centre boy in the middle of the park who can play an attacking role or any one of two or three positions in there.

“The chairman always laughs when I say we’re looking at two more. He said ever since the day he met me I have always said ‘two more chairman’.

“He and Carolyn are working so hard right now to try to get one done for me. I have two names on a piece of paper that the chairman is in possession of. And if we can’t do either of them we can go with what we’ve got.

“I don’t think people know how good (Lee) Angol and (Jimmy) Spencer are, let alone (Danny) Rose and Amari (Sterling-Thomas).

“We are very well equipped though we don’t hide where we need to strengthen the group - in the striker department and maybe centrally behind him. It is a specific type of play in each of those areas of the pitch we are looking for.

“If we get that done we will be very fortunate and thankful to our chairman and chief executive. If it doesn’t happen we could kick off next week with the squad we’ve got.”

Evans is not worried by fans’ fears over the lack of an experienced ‘big name’ goalscorer. “I think Lee Angol has got a claim to be a big name striker,” he said.

“I could name you 10 clubs off the top of my head who were having chats with Peterborough about signing him.

“We think the world of him - he is a special talent. We are going to love him. “We will nurture him and we will tell him off as we need to get him working harder out of position. When he adds that to his game this kid is a Championship player all day long. “But I think the world of Danny Rose. When we arrived here he was seen as a right or left winger or a substitute. But he is a key man is Danny and he shouldn’t be forgotten.

“If he plays 40-odd games he will be up near that (20-goal a season) mark. People forget he got 10 goals from open play in 17 or 18 starts compared to others that may have taken penalties. “Jimmy Spencer with a free run of form would be looking forward to life in League One certainly. Speaking to the people at Plymouth they would have been keeping him other than the fact he just got injured at the wrong time.” Stags fly out to Malta on Monday, backed by several hundred fans, for a week-long pre-season training camp and a friendly with a Malta Select XI.

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Steve Evans delighted with Mansfield Town’s summer business
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, 27 June 2017

Steve Evans is delighted with his summer business and raring to go after his much-needed break ended.

The Mansfield Town manager signed his 13th player of the summer on his return to the ground this week and said: “It’s been fantastic.

“We’ve done most things we set out to achieve in respect of my conversations with the chairman and chief executive over the last three months.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-delighted-with-mansfield-town-s-summer-business-1-8623674

“We’ve gone to work and we’ve signed some talented players. We’ve made sure they have had a break but been working hard with their own programmes for a number of weeks.”

Some fans had been worried things had gone so quiet after such an early flurry of deals. But Evans said work had continued with Omari Sterling-James secured and two other new faces being chased.

“Sometimes if there a big deal it takes a little bit longer and what goes on behind the scenes doesn’t always portray what goes on in front,” said Evans.

“It’s like the swan effect isn’t it? You see the swan gracefully move along the water but really its feet underneath are paddling away like mad.

“Myself and the chairman and chief executive have spent many hours over many evenings pulling a final few bits together.

“But it’s been good as I have also had the opportunity to go and spend some time with the girls in my life, who I love dearly, and have a few days with them as well as the opportunity to go and have a round of golf with Paul (assistant Raynor) and put the world to rights.”

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New era begins as Stags return for pre-season
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, 27 June 2017

Mansfield Town’s new-look squad return for pre-season training in the morning (Thursday) as the start of a new era begins to take shape.

The squad will assemble at Nottingham University for two days of fitness testing to see how well players have summered.

“I am very much looking forward to it,” said boss Steve Evans.

“The banter will be flying and the dressing room will take ascendency in terms of the characters and the lads who have just come in quietly getting on with their business.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/new-era-begins-as-stags-return-for-pre-season-1-8620848

“We are very fortunate to be able to go to a local specialist facility for two days of complete testing which will be controlled by our fitness coach Lee Taylor.

“Saturday morning we’ll be into the One Call Stadium for some football work and then we’ll give them a day with their families before we depart for Malta on Monday.”

Evans continued: “I have a sign in the dressing room that I have had at all my clubs that says if you are failing to prepare then you are preparing to fail. It’s as simple as that.”

Like the players, the manager can’t wait to get the footballs out and start playing. “They have been given plans,” he said.

“We have a mechanism that means the boys are telling us every day they have done their work by certain times.

“If they have done their work then it will be very evident tomorrow and will mean we have less intense work to do and more enjoyable work.

“We all want to get the footballs out and get the systems of play into place and let these players express themselves.”

He added: “Dare I say it, you don’t want to be signings the likes of Digby, Atkinson, Anderson and Mellis and people like that if you’re not going to let them express themselves.

“What we’ve done is bring good horses to the water. Let them drink. But they need to be prepared to drink in an orderly fashion.”

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Steve Evans plays down Mansfield Town’s tag as League Two favourites
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, 27 June 2017

Steve Evans continued to play down his Mansfield Town squad’s position as bookies’ favourites to win League Two.

“Favourites are only what bookmakers ‘guesstimate’. But you never know where squads are completely until the end of the window, which is the end of August,” he warned.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-plays-down-mansfield-town-s-tag-as-league-two-favourites-1-8623691

“I have a lot of respect for Kevin Nolan over at Notts County and I see their chairman has come out and said they are going to sign some big names and some superstars. That is great and it’s great for the league.

“I look at the work that Mark Robins has done at Coventry - you can’t fail to be impressed.

“I can keep going. There’s Paul Tisdale down at Exeter. He’s kept the ones he wanted to keep and he’s going to add to it.

“I know Chesterfield are a local rival but I get on exceptionally well with the manager. I have done my pro licence with Gary and I know what he stands for.

“Russell Slade over at Grimsby has gone back there to make an impact.”

He added: “That’s only some of the local teams I have identified, never mind looking at the likes of Swindon, Carlisle and the other teams that are going to make it really tough.”

But Evans still has that pre-season feeling of excitement that has seen him pull off nine promotions in the past.

“It’s the same feeling I had at Rotherham - lots of expectation,” he said.

“That season at Rotherham we didn’t start particularly well and we had to win the last six games in a row to get promotion.

“There were lots of ups and downs and there were a lot of games we totally dominated but perhaps didn’t always get the result we deserved.”

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Steve Evans to give run outs to all 13 summer signings
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, 27 June 2017

Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans will mix up his squad to make sure supporters get the chance to see all of his 13 summer signings in action over an eight-day period that will see the Stags take on three Championship clubs in pre-season friendlies at One Call Stadium.

Stags will face Sheffield Wednesday at One Call Stadium on Saturday, 15 July (3pm), followed by the visit of Middlesbrough on Wednesday, 19 July (7.30pm) and then Mark Warburton’s Nottingham Forest on Saturday, 22 July (3pm).

“I am really looking forward to those three games - each an individual game for different reasons,” said Evans.

“The reason we have booked all three in a week is we want to give the home supporters the chance to see all the players.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-to-give-run-outs-to-all-13-summer-signings-1-8623704

“All the players will be given an opportunity over those three games to express themselves in front of the Mansfield Town supporters.

“I don’t have to build players up. Supporters can judge them for themselves.” Evans is delighted by the quality of the opposition booked.

“They are wonderful games,” he said. “One of the backroom team at Sheffield Wednesday was telling me the other day they’d sold their tickets and maybe our chairman wants to give them some more. They are a wonderful club.

“I believe it will be Gary’s first game with Middlesbrough and no one has spoken more than me about the plaudits for Gary Monk and the job he did following me at Leeds.

“He did an incredible job and Gary will want to come here and get his players to get the ball down and play on the wonderful surface that will be here.

“Then we have Mark Warburton, another guy who has taken on a big challenge over at Nottingham Forest. No doubt Forest will be selling the game here too.”

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Mansfield Town ready for Malta pre-season tour
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, 27 June 2017

Mansfield Town will fly out to Malta on Monday for a pre-season training camp and opening friendly, backed by several hundred supporters.

There will be little time for any of the players to top up their summer tans.

“We will go over there and work really hard - it will be really intense for them,” said manager Steve Evans.

“We have also got the opportunity to play a little bit of football and get an opportunity to meet some of the supporters who have spent their hard-earned money going there just because Mansfield Town have gone there.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-ready-for-malta-pre-season-tour-1-8623696

After being let down by five proposed opponents, Stags will take on a Malta Select XI on Thursday 6 July (7.45pm local time) at the training ground of the Ta’ Qali National Stadium.

Supporters flying out to join us can watch the match free of charge.

“I have not been involved in too much of the planning as it was almost all booked in place by the time myself and Paul Raynor arrived,” said Evans.

“But we will make it a fantastic week for the players. We are assured everything is going to be top class.

“I am glad we are going somewhere a bit different as we did at Rotherham and Crawley. It never served those teams bad to go somewhere a little bit different.”

As far as their opponents are concerned, he added: “I don’t know who they are. I just hope Paul Raynor is not playing for the opposition.”

In addition, Stags’ U21s team, which will include a selection of youth team players, will take on St Andrews’ first team at Triq Dun Guzepp Farrugia, PBK 1740, Pembroke, Malta, on Wednesday, 5 July (7.45pm local time).

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Steve Evans wishes Matt Green all the best after move to Lincoln City
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, 27 June 2017

Steve Evans has wished Mansfield Town goalscoring Matt Green all the best for his new career at League Two rivals Lincoln City after releasing him in the summer.

The Imps now have six ex-Stags signed up and another, James Baxendale, on trial.

“Danny Cowley has phoned me trying to buy one of ours but we didn’t agree a fee,” said Evans after being asked if he had four more players available to make up a full XI ex-Stags at Sincil Bank.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-wishes-matt-green-all-the-best-after-move-to-lincoln-city-1-8623681

“But I can’t say a bad word about Matt Green. He has scored goals for this football club. He helped get the club out of the Conference and back up into the League.

“We just wanted a different type of player on and off the pitch.

“But he really is such a nice kid when you sit down and talk to him and certainly all bar our games we wish him every success. I am sure Matt will want Mansfield Town to do well too.”

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Good league form will bring cup rewards for Mansfield Town, believes boss Steve Evans
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, 27 June 2017

If Mansfield Town can hit top form in League Two, boss Steve Evans reckons cup success will follow.

Stags have drawn League One Rochdale at home in the first round of the Carabao Cup and Evans knows how tough that will be.

“You talk about who did the good jobs in League One last year and I don’t think anyone can dispute the job that Keith Hill did at Rochdale,” he said.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/good-league-form-will-bring-cup-rewards-for-mansfield-town-believes-boss-steve-evans-1-8623693

“He put a team of men together, like he does every season, and not only did they play winning football and find a way to win, they also played very attractive football.

“I was fortunate to watch them three or four times last year and Paul Raynor watched them on the last day of the season and came away raving about their performance against Bradford.

“So we know how tough that test is going to be.”

Evans spelled out the club’s priorities, saying: “We don’t mince our words - we have one ambition and one focus here which is League Two and the cup competitions will be a bonus.

“But it’s normally systematic that if you have ambitions and you’re doing well in the league, you normally have good cup form as well as it means you have good players and a good team.”

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Latest | July 2017