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Archived News from February 2021

NICKY MAYNARD JOINS NEWPORT ON LOAN
7th February 2021 17:27


Striker joins Newport on loan
mansfieldtown.net, Monday 1st February 2021, 11.00pm

Mansfield Town striker Nicky Maynard has joined Newport County AFC on loan until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old has appeared 21 times for Mansfield this term, scoring on four occasions.

The frontman will not be eligible to play for Newport County against the Stags when the Exiles visit One Call Stadium in April.

“Nicky wanted an opportunity to go and challenge for first team football and this move also gives him the opportunity to earn a contract somewhere for next season,” said Stags’ manager Nigel Clough.

“Nicky understands how well the front players are playing here and he hasn’t featured too much in the last month or two.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/february/striker-joins-newport-on-loan/

“It’s been a pleasure working with Nicky and I hope he does well at Newport.

“We’ve brought Ollie Sarkic in to replace him and the move [of Nicky Maynard to Newport] could allow a couple of the younger lads, such as Nathan Caine, to be promoted into the first team squad if needed.”

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mansfieldtown.net, Tue 2 Feb 2021

Following a transfer deadline day that ran right to the wire for the Stags, boss Nigel Clough gave his thoughts on the January window

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/february/gaffer-on-bolton-postponement/

“We’d been working on a few things anyway for the last week, but it always - inevitably - goes to the last day.

“I’d had a chat with Nicky [Maynard] last week, and talked about how well Jamie Reid and Jordan [Bowery] had done, and his opportunities would probably be limited, providing they kept playing like that.

“He asked to look at things with a view to earning a deal for next season. If he sits and just comes off the bench a couple of times, that doesn’t help him for next season. We want to be fair to everyone, so he went to Newport on loan. Cooky had gone earlier in the window.

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Nicky Maynard on instagram:

I want to say thank you to @mansfieldtownfc @carolyn_radford @johnlawrenceradford for the past season and half for giving me the opportunity to play. And my team mates I had the pleasure to work with I wish you all the best for the rest of the season

(laughing emoji) me and these vids Delighted to of signed for @newportcountyafcofficial_ for the remainder of the season. Can’t wait for the new challenge and to get back playing

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DONE DEAL - Nicky Maynard joins Exiles on loan
newport-county.co.uk

Newport County AFC have completed the signing of Nicky Maynard on a loan deal from Mansfield Town, subject to international clearance.

Maynard has joined the club until the end of the campaign after putting pen-to-paper on a loan switch from County’s League Two rivals.

https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2021/february/nicky-maynard-joins-exiles/

He brings a wealth of experience to the Exiles having made nearly 400 appearances across the Football League and Premier League.

The striker, who progressed through Crewe Alexandra’s youth system, made his senior debut for the then-Championship club before earning a move to Bristol City, where he scored 46 times in 131 appearances.

After departing the Robins in 2012, Maynard joined West Ham United and netted four goals in 17 outings for the Hammers, who he helped on their way to the Premier League in 2012 after sealing promotion through the Championship play-offs.

The 34-year-old was part of another promotion-winning side with Cardiff City in the following season after moving to south Wales for the 2012-13 campaign. He managed three goals and three assists in 26 appearances for the Bluebirds, with eight of those outings coming in the Premier League.

A spell with MK Dons followed for the striker prior to a move to the Scottish Premiership, where he was reunited with his former Bristol City manager Derek McInness.

He then returned to England in September 2018 and joined Bury, who were then sat in League Two. Maynard, who was playing alongside County striker Dom Telford during his time at the club, netted 21 times in 41 appearances for the Shakers, helping them secure promotion to League One after a second-placed finish. He also finished as the third highest scorer in League Two following his goals throughout the 2018-19 campaign.

Maynard then made a permanent switch to Mansfield last season, managing 15 goals and two assists in 35 appearances. He signed a new contract with the Stags this term and netted four times in 21 outings in the first half of the campaign.

After completing the deal, Maynard said: "I had a few offers from clubs in this league and in League One, but the gaffer got hold of me, told me about the club and how it’s going forward, so hopefully it works out for me here.

"I want to come in, score goals and help the team push towards the top of the table."

Manager Michael Flynn added: "Nicky has been a proven goalscorer throughout his career and will bring a wealth of experience to the club. He knows what it takes to get to League One after his promotion with Bury a few seasons ago.

"He's still a player who is very hungry and I'm sure he will score the goals to keep us at the top end of the table between now and the end of the season."

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INTERVIEW - Nicky Maynard: "Hopefully my experience will help the lads kick on and everyone will be happy come the end of the season"
3 February 2021

https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2021/february/nicky-maynard-interview/

Nicky Maynard says he didn’t hesitate in jumping at the chance to join Newport County AFC on deadline day, despite attracting interest from elsewhere.

The striker sealed a deadline day loan switch to the Exiles from Sky Bet League Two rivals Mansfield Town on Monday.

Maynard has been limited to opportunities at the One Call Stadium this season having made the starting line-up on 11 occasions for the Stags.

He had fallen down the pecking order under Nigel Clough and was given permission to look elsewhere in a bid to regular football for the rest of the season, which manager Michael Flynn offered to him.

Maynard revealed he received offers from other clubs in the Football League, but chose Rodney Parade as his destination after holding positive talks with Flynn.

"He [Michael Flynn] told me about how he saw me fitting into the team and how I could enhance the team’s chances of promotion,” said Maynard.

"He made me feel wanted and, at the stage of my career, I want to be at a team that wants me. Hopefully I can fulfil my promises and do well for the team.

"He has told me to come in, enjoy myself and just do what I’ve been doing throughout my career, which is scoring goals. Hopefully my experience will help the lads kick on and everyone will be happy come the end of the season.”

The 34-year-old brings a wealth of Football League experience to the Exiles having earned three promotions - with West Ham, Cardiff City and Bury - over the course of his career. He helped guide the latter to Sky Bet League One two seasons ago and is well aware of the ups and downs that promotions side go through during a campaign.

County are currently experiencing a sticky patch of form with their last win coming against Grimsby Town in December, and Maynard’s first priority will be to help Flynn’s side get back on track.

"It’s very unlikely that a team will go throughout the whole season without a bad run of form.

"Newport have started well and gone through a little bit of a bad patch, but you have to be determined and keep working hard to put it right.

"When you get that win, that’s the momentum changer and that’s the way football is. The main thing is nobody dwells on defeats - you have to look to improve and move on.

"From my take on it, it’s not going to be long until we turn this bad run into a good run and go further up the league."

It was a race against the deadline to get Maynard’s signature over the line, with his medical taking place with Newport County AFC’s senior physiotherapist Tom Gittoes less than an hour before the window slammed shut at 11pm.

But the paperwork was submitted on time and the striker took part in his first training session - alongside a few familiar faces - with the Exiles on Tuesday morning.

"It was a very enjoyable session" added Maynard.

"It was a disappointing result on Saturday, but everyone’s come in a good mood and they’re determined to put this bad run to an end.

"Ashley [Baker] was young when I was at Cardiff, but he was always someone who had that potential. It’s the first time that I’ve seen him in a while, but he’s very good and composed on the ball.

"I get on really well with Dom [Telford] on and off the pitch, so hopefully we can show that in the upcoming games. Jack [Evans] was on loan at Mansfield last year too and I got to see him in training. The lads have made me feel welcome but it’s not a daunting task to come to a new club because I’ve been in the game long enough.

"Everyone wearing the Newport County AFC training top or match shirt all want the same thing at the end of the season."

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David Sharpe talked to Jake Garner on BBC Radio Nottingham about the transfer window, 5 Feb 2021:

“I was in the office with Nigel and all the coaches and Simon Clough til late at night. I think we only left at 11 o’clock. It was quite a hectic day because there was potentially a few things that were going to happen which didn’t happen.

“But it didn’t stop the Nicky Maynard deal, going to Newport. We could have kept hold of him but Nigel felt that he was best to move on. Nicky had spoken to Nigel earlier in the window and I think he’d made it clear that he wanted to be playing football and coming on for 5 or 10 minutes wasn’t enough for him because he wanted a deal somewhere next season. So that was an honest conversation and good luck to Nicky at Newport.”

“Happy with the transfer window, could always be happier. We’ve trimmed the wage bill. The squad and players available to Nigel he’s very happy with.

“Nigel wants players who are going to contribute every week. Nicky and Andy are quite high-earners, I’m not going to lie, and what they were contributing compared to what they were earning was not enough, and that’s not their fault, he just likes Jamie (Reid) and Jordan (Bowery) up front and Harry (Charsley) on the right. And that’s Nigel, he’s been great since he’s come in, he doesn’t want to spend money for the sake of it, and that has shown in his first window. So far so good and hopefully we can keep on going how we are doing in the league.”

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