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Archived News from May 2003

TOWN TO THWART STAGS IN STRIKER BID
28th May 2003 18:54


Hucknall Today (Hucknall edition of CHAD: Hucknall Dispatch)
WANTED striker Danny Bacon could yet reject Nationwide League Mansfield Town - in favour of non-league Hucknall Town, the Dispatch can exclusively reveal. For it is believed that Hucknall have offered Bacon MORE money to sign a permanent deal at Watnall Road than he has been offered to stay at Mansfield. The 22-year-old striker, who has made 40 first-team appearances in five years at The Stags, spent the last seven weeks of last season on loan at Hucknall. He netted ten goals in 14 games and helped Phil Starbuck's men complete their best-ever season in the Unibond League. With his Field Mill contract expiring this summer, Hucknall were desperate to persuade Bacon to sign permanently. And chairman Brian Holmes made him "an offer that exceeds any put to a player in the history of the club". Holmes's hopes appeared to be shattered when Stags boss Keith Curle offered Bacon a one-year deal to stay at Mansfield. Curle said he was prepared to give the striker another chance after his impressive form at Watnall Road. However it became clear at Hucknall's end-of-season presentation night on Thursday last week that Bacon's mind is far from made up. "He didn't seem very positive about the prospect of staying at Mansfield," said Holmes. "To the best of my understanding, the financial offer from Hucknall is greater than that from Mansfield," said Holmes. "It is not necessarily all about money because the lad's ambition is to play at a higher level. "But our offer is also over two years, rather than one, and includes a signing-on fee. I would say it's 50-50 at the moment which way he goes." The very fact that Hucknall can put more cash on the table than a full-time Nationwide League club is a clear - and remarkable - sign of their ambition and progress. Bacon might yet be tempted to give it another go with his hometown club but his chances have been severely limited since he first signed in 1998. What's more, The Stags are on a downward spiral after relegation from Division Two last season and new boss Curle has made little or no impact. In contrast, Hucknall are on a high and it is conceivable that the two clubs could both be heading towards the Nationwide Conference in the near future. Bacon is currently on a fortnight's holiday but has promised to speak to Holmes as soon as he returns.

 

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