Archived News from June 2021
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CLOUGH PRESS CONF / STAGS MISS OUT ON TOM NAYLOR
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Nigel Clough press conference, Friday 11 June 2021
Nigel Clough told iFollow Stags on Danny Johnson: "Danny Johnson has been on our radar quite some time. We knew he was out of contract. "We've been looking around at goalscorers at this level and I think he's as good as we can get who's out of contract. "Very very pleased to have secured him. "When you look at his clips, a wide variety of goals he scores and he is just that, a goalscorer. "The way that we play, we'll create him some chances and I think that's what's persuaded him to join us. "We're still in the market for another one (striker) as well but we needed somebody of this type. "It's a mentality thing as well. Somebody like him goes on the pitch thinking he's going to score a goal. Our strikers work their socks off, Jordan and Reidy, but I don't think they go on the pitch with that intention all the time. "We needed someone with that streak of selfishness who thinks I'm going to score a goal when I go on the pitch today. "We scored a fair few goals, we just didn't score enough proportionally of the chances we created. "In the last five games we had something like 100 shots, and even in the last two, 48. "I think he scored his 19 goals off something like 62 efforts which is a pretty good ratio." Mark Stevenson: "Elsewhere I understand yesterday we were expecting a second signing. However at the eleventh hour, the rug was pulled underneath your feet with regard to the signing of Tom Naylor, can you tell us more?" Nigel Clough: "Frustrating to say the least and disappointing. "Tom (Naylor) actually came in for his medical and it was at the stage where everything was agreed. "Unbeknown to Tom or anyone else his agent was still negotiating with another club behind everybody’s back, even when the deal had been was agreed. "It’s about different standards of behaviour. "When we thought Tom might be available, we knew he was out of contract and his personal circumstances gave us a chance. "We thought with his agent being an ex-Stags player as well, so hopefully he’ll be keen on coming here. "We were very surprised. One of the first conversations with (CEO) David (Sharpe) had with him (the agent), one of the first things he said was he didn’t want him coming here, which was surprising from the agent. "Actually, that was the second thing he said, the first thing he asked how much he was getting out of the deal. "It was very disappointing. It’s not that it happens, it’s how it happens and the behaviour. "In sharp contrast, we dealt with Danny Johnson’s two agents. They were disappointed when we told them what happens because it reflects badly on them. "The vast majority of agents we deal with are good and honourable. "They have a principle that once you agree a deal there’s no going back. "It reflects badly on the whole business. "I feel sorry for Tom because he was happy, medical and all of a sudden behind his back he’s presented with a bigger financial offer at the last minute. "He phoned and explained and was a little bit embarrassed about it. "You can understand though, because he’s got a baby on the way and he’s nearly 30 years’ old and has to make these difficult decisions. "But as far as we were concerned the deal was done. "We had it in mind for him to vie for a place at centre half. "He has played there quite a bit before and he did for us at Burton. We thought that would be his best position for the next few seasons. "Yes (we're still in the hunt for another central defender). "We have got Rawson, Hewitt and Perch, all who can play centre half. "He was going to be a big signing for us and one we were excited about but we move on. "It was a heavy deal for us in terms of he was going to be our highest paid player. "We move on and we go for somebody else now. "Stephen Quinn's on holiday this week. So hopefully that should be Monday/Tuesday. "We've agreed for a young goalkeeper to come in on loan. And we're also very close to agreeing with a first choice on loan as well. "And a young defender. So we'd hope to get those tied up next week. "After that, maybe just one (more). "But we do have two or three, Rollin, Corey O'Keeffe and Marek Stech, all who are looking for fresh clubs with a year left on their contracts. "Until at least one of those goes, we'll probably stick with what we've got after these signings. "Rollin is not effectively (transfer listed), but if there's people out there interested in him we'll listen to offers. He wants to play, we can't guarantee him that place. "We've had calls from another League Two club about Corey, and a couple of bits of interest about Marek, nothing concrete." transcribed by Martin comment from Martin: The agent is Jake Speight, former Stags striker. ------------------- Tom Naylor is a Tic! ,, Friday 11 June 2021 https://wiganathletic.com/news/2021/june/Tom-Naylor-is-a-Tic-/ Former Pompey captain has agreed a three-year deal at the DW Stadium Naylor featured in every League One fixture for Portsmouth FC last term Wigan Athletic are delighted to confirm that former Portsmouth FC captain Tom Naylor has agreed a three-year deal at the DW Stadium. Naylor has agreed to join Leam Richardson’s side ahead of the 2021-22 campaign after a spell with Portsmouth, where he featured over 100 times since the summer of 2018. The defensive midfielder started his career at Mansfield Town by signing his first professional contract in March 2009, going on to make his first-team debut against Altrincham. Following his impressive performances, Naylor built a reputation as a bright and upcoming talent and began to attract attention from teams further up the football pyramid. He earned a move to Championship side Derby in November 2011, which was made permanent by then-Rams boss Nigel Clough in January 2012. Naylor was able to gain more EFL experience over the next couple of years at the likes of Bradford City, Grimsby Town, Newport County, and Cambridge United, before joining Burton Albion on loan in January 2015. The 29-year-old was an instant success at the Pirelli Stadium as he helped the Brewers win the League Two title, before signing permanently with the club. He then went on to score six goals in 41 League One appearances to help Burton Albion win promotion to the Sky Bet Championship for the first time in their history. He played 33 times in the following campaign, scoring three times as Burton secured survival in the second tier. Despite the Brewers suffering relegation from the Championship in the 2017-18 campaign, Naylor was one of the standout performers for Nigel Clough’s side as he netted three times in 33 league games, operating predominately in the engine room. He was signed by Portsmouth in the summer of 2018 and has made just shy of 150 appearances for Pompey in all competitions, with the club captain scoring 13 goals in that period. Naylor was ever-present for Portsmouth in the 2020-21 season and enjoyed one of his best individual campaigns at Fratton Park as he scored eight goals in 53 appearances in all competitions. After agreeing a deal to join the club ahead of next season, he revealed his delight to start the new chapter of his career at Latics. “I’m over the moon. I’m buzzing, excited, and I cannot wait to get started,” he said. “I enjoyed it at Portsmouth where I was club captain which was a huge honour, but sometimes you’ve got to make the decision to move on. When Wigan came calling, I spoke to the manager a couple of times and he sold me the club. “The infrastructure has made the decision really easy. The training ground and the facilities that we’ve got at this club are brilliant. The ground is amazing as well, and with the fans coming back in next season, hopefully I can show them what I’m all about.“ --------------------- EARLIER: Chris Wise @chriswisey, Wed 10 Jun 2021 Understand that Tom Naylor to Wigan is now a done deal. Believe he has agreed terms on a three year contract. Naylor turned down Mansfield offer. Another former #Pompey player linking up with old Blues assistant Leam Richardson. Alan Nixon @reluctantnicko, The Sun, Wed 10 Jun 2021 Wigan. Tom Naylor thing very live. Free agent. Portsmouth skipper in his time. Centre half or def mid. Others keen but Latics noses in front. Wigan. Naylor thing has an interesting twist. Seems he was having a medical at Mansfield when Wigan came in late ... ---------------------- MUCH EARLIER: Transfer Gossip: League Two Mansfield 'interested' in Portsmouth captain Tom Naylor as exit looms Portsmouth News, Monday 17th May 2021 Pompey captain Tom Naylor could find himself reunited with former boss Nigel Clough at Mansfield. That’s according to the BBC’s Chris Wise, who claims the Stags are keen on the midfielder. The News revealed today that Pompey are set to lose the 29-year-old this summer, with the out-of-contract ex-Burton man unlikely to remain at Fratton Park. He’s made 149 appearances for the Blues, scoring 13 goals, following his move from the Brewers in 2018. https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/transfer-gossip-league-two-mansfield-interested-in-portsmouth-captain-tom-naylor-as-exit-looms-3239828 However, it looks like Naylor has played his last game for the Fratton Park outfit, with his exit likely. A move back to the Championship has often been suggested as a potential destination - although no club has been linked. Now it appears League Two could provide the midfielder with a new home, with Wise claiming Mansfield are interested in bringing their former player back for a reunion with Clough. Naylor played for the former Nottingham Forest and Liverpool forward at both Derby and Burton, while he began his playing career at the Stags, playing 23 times before joining the Rams. In a tweet, Wise posted: ‘I’m told Mansfield is a possible destination for #Pompey captain Tom Naylor. ‘Interest has been there for a number of weeks. ‘Naylor began his career with the #Stags, and played under their current boss Nigel Clough at both Derby and Burton.’ While Pompey finished their 2020-21 campaign eighth in League One, Mansfield claimed a 16th-placed finish in League Two. ------------------------- Portsmouth braced for Tom Naylor departure as Fratton Park overhaul continues Portsmouth News, Monday 17th May 2021, By Neil Allen It is understood the Blues skipper has been offered new terms to remain at Fratton Park - yet on lower pay. Mark Catlin has repeatedly warned how the financial climate will change for footballers post-Covid following more than a year without crowd income. As a consequence, Pompey’s out-of-contract players can expect to be offered reduced terms compared to previous seasons. https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/portsmouth-braced-for-tom-naylor-departure-as-fratton-park-overhaul-continues-3239155 In the case of Naylor, Danny Cowley is eager to retain a player who has amassed 149 appearances and 13 goals. However, having arrived from the Championship where he served with Burton in June 2018, he ranks among the Blues’ top earners. With his three-year deal now up, Pompey are in no position to match those payment figures, let alone initiate an increase. Naylor - like his team-mates - has been offered a fresh deal since the season ended, yet it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will accept. Talks are ongoing, but it is believed hope is rapidly fading of the skipper extending his Fratton Park stay. Perhaps crucially, the 29-year-old’s personal situation has also changed, with his wife, who has remained up north, expecting their child. Naylor has lived away from his family during his three years at Fratton Park, most recently sharing a house in Waterlooville with team-mate Andy Cannon. The combative midfielder’s dedication to his football saw him prepared to accept time apart from his loved ones to focus on his football career. However, there is now the opportunity to relocate back up north, with there is expected to be plenty of interest from League One clubs. Should his exit be confirmed, that will disappoint Cowley, with Naylor one of the few players he wants to survive the summer squad overhaul. --------------------- |
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