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Archived News from August 2017

EVANS HOPEFUL ADDING STRIKER/TRIED TO SIGN COLLINS
25th August 2017 15:50


Gaffer optimistic of adding frontman to squad
mansfieldtown.net, 21 Aug 2017

Stags' boss Steve Evans is 'hopeful' of tying up a loan deal for a striker ahead of this Saturday's home match against Luton Town.

The gaffer has spoken publically about the hunt for a frontman to add to the striking quartet of Danny Rose, Lee Angol, Jimmy Spencer and Omari Sterling-James since the end of last season.

And although nothing is yet agreed, the boss is hopeful of finalising a loan deal, with a view to a permanent move, for the striker this week.

"I've just had a call on the way in this morning, something may be happening. I'm waiting to speak to our chairman (John Radford) and chief executive (Carolyn Radford), just to give them the latest from my side. I'm not going to say anymore, it would be very good for us if this could happen," the Stags' chief said.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/august/gaffer-21-august/

"He's a striker. He's scores a goal, he works incredibly hard for his team and I've tried to sign him a couple of times.

"I've only had a call from his agent saying the kid would love to come, I've never spoken to him in my life. I need my chairman and chief exec just to give it final approval.

"I'll be having that chat with the chairman and chief exec - they're really busy this morning, tied up in a number of meetings not related to football. They will call me when their diary allows and we'll have that chat and if we have that chat, then I'm hopeful.

"It would be a loan with a view to making it a permanent with a transfer fee in January. I don't want to say anymore because we've been here before and it's not happened."

Speaking at a news conference at One Call Stadium earlier today, the gaffer told the local media that winger Alex MacDonald is now available for selection after last month's knee surgery and was close to being included in Saturday's defeat to Accrington Stanley.

"He's ready now. If we have a good week out of Alex, he'll be ready for Saturday. I was very, very tempted to not only put him on the bench on Saturday, but to actually play him.

"It's always a brutal, physical challenge at Accrington, as it is most weeks in the league, but particularly there.

"So we wanted Alex to have another game on the pitch and more game-time and come through another week of training, but the wee fella's ready. He probably told me ten times in ten minutes after the game.

"The squad's in good shape. We've got Alfie [Potter] who we'll try and have fit as best we can for Luton, but other than that, everyone's come through Saturday with no ill effects."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full news conference.

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Evans says in the video interview on iFollow that "we were in the mix trying to sign James Collins but he got too rich (*) for us and it shows you the type of resources available at Luton".
(* presumably he meant too expensive)

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Stags boss hopeful on new striker deal
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 21 August 2017

Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans was today given new hope of signing a striker ahead of the August transfer deadline. Evans has been working non-stop to bring in an additional striker and central midfielder to complete his squad, but has twice been snubbed by strikers from higher divisions not wanting to drop to League Two level.

However, a call from an agent this morning has set the ball rolling on another potential deal - and the good news is that the player wants to come.

“As I am sitting here now I am very hopeful,” said Evans. “I had a call on my way in and something may be happening. I am waiting to speak to our chairman and chief executive to give them the latest from my side.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-hopeful-on-new-striker-deal-1-8713674

“It would be very good for us if this could happen. “He is a striker, he scores a goal and he works incredibly hard for his team. I have tried to sign him a couple of times.

“I have only had a call from his agent saying the kid would love to come. I have never spoken to him in my life.

“That would have to happen and then I’d need my chairman and chief executive to give me the final approval.

“They are really busy today tied up in meetings and they will call me when they can.”

Evans added: “I am hopeful, but there is a big difference between being hopeful and something happening.

“It would be a loan with a view to making it a permanent with a transfer fee in January.

“I don’t want to say any more as we’ve been here before and it’s not happened.”

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New Stags striker target has best stats so far
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 21 August 2017

Mansfield Town chief executive Carolyn Radford said the club’s latest striker transfer target had the most impressive record of those chased so far this summer.

She said at today’s AGM that she intends working on the deal with boss Steve Evans tonight and hopes it could even be concluded before the day is out.

The possible deal came out the blue following a call to Evans from an agent first thing today.

“We might know something by the end of the day,” she said. “It would be a good signing. He has got the best statistics that Steve has come to us with so far.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/new-stags-striker-target-has-best-stats-so-far-1-8714478

Chairman John Radford added: “We all know we need an extra striker. We need another option. “As you all know we are trying for promotion this season and really pushing for it.

“Jim (financial director Beachill) is keeping my hands tied a little bit with players. But hopefully we’ll have some good news today or tomorrow.

“Carolyn is working really hard for the club at the moment. “We hope we can get a player in before the end of the transfer window, but these situations are tricky and we have to keep things quite confidential for now.”

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Stags make formal complaint over elbow decision at Accrington
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 21 August 2017

Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans has made a formal complaint over Mark Hughes’ elbow on Danny Rose on Saturday and referee Darren Bond’s decision not to send the Accrington Stanley player off. Stags were beaten 2-1 by a late Billy Kee winner at Accrington, but the goal was set up by a player who Evans felt should have been back in the dressing room by then.

“Billy Kee popped it in from less than half a yard, but the lad who makes the goal should not be on the pitch,” said Evans.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-make-formal-complaint-over-elbow-decision-at-accrington-1-8713766

“It was a disgraceful elbow on Danny Rose. We have sent that footage to the Head of Referees at the EFL yesterday.

“I came into the club this morning and watched it in wider footage and it gets even worse.

“These things happen, but the referee was in a clear uninterrupted position, so he’s had a shocker.

“I am not blaming him for the defeat, but the boy that makes the goal should not be on the pitch.

“I think if they had gone down to 10 men in the 72nd minute, dare I say it, we could have gone on and won the game.”

Evans said he did not expect anything to happen, but felt it was the right thing to do to submit a DVD of the incident.

He said: “We’re not going to moan about it - we’ll let the people deal with what we’ve sent in though we don’t tend to get decisions in our favour.

“We will get the normal drivel back won’t we? I have to say it. He should have gone off and it doesn’t help you when it’s passed on. But we have a duty to send these things on.

“The elbow is a straight red but the same lad made five or six other yellow card challenges after he was cautioned in the first half for dissent.

“So I think the referee had a poor day. I have got to say I think he is a poor official - I’ve had him many times.

“But we are not blaming him for the result. Just his inability to produce a second yellow or a straight red.

“We had a quiet chat afterwards and I think the Accrington staff knew they’d got away with one. It happens in football and we move on.”

Although Mansfield were not at their best, Evans believed they were worth at least a point. “We lacked a bit of creativity on Saturday and that’s not been like us,” he said.

“We purposely tried to set up a team that would perhaps give us the creativity in wide positions and leave the battle for the middle.

“I can’t fault the players for determination, effort and willingness to press high and win the ball. We didn’t do enough with it.

“If there was one team deserved to win it, I don’t think anyone in the stadium would have doubted we deserved to win it.

“Because of our lack of creativity we thought on the day the minimum was a point. “It wasn’t a good day for us but I was pleased how hard we worked.”

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Latest | August 2017