Archived News from June 2004
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NO REST FOR BUSY CURLE
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NO REST FOR BUSY CURLE
Evening Post, STEVIE RODEN, 05 June 2004 Keith Curle today told how he is sacrificing a summer holiday in order to help Mansfield Town to Division Two next season. The Stags boss did not see his team's season finish until Monday as a result of the play-off final defeat and he has spent the past week sorting out players contracts. Seven players, including Tony Vaughan, Iyseden Christie and Laurent D'Jaffo, have been released, with 13 offered new deals. But with pre-season training due to start on July 1, Curle said there is no time to take a holiday as he looks to bring in five new players. Curle said: "It is going to be very busy. A lot of managers finished early in May and have had their holidays are now back at work. "I cannot afford to be away when everybody else is doing their work so I will not be going on holiday." Curle yesterday released Jamie Clarke, Chris Beardsley, Craig Mitchell, Laurent D'Jaffo, Iyseden Christie, Tony Vaughan and Andy White, as revealed in later editions of the Post. Kevin Pilkington, Alex John-Baptiste, Wayne Corden and Colin Larkin are still under contract and the others have 30 days to respond to the offers made to them. Liam Lawrence looks set to head elsewhere but Curle is confident that despite not being able to offer big wages, most of his squad will re-sign. He said: "The players have been made realistic offers. A lot of them were on Second Division wages because of the aftermath of promotion and then relegation. "But they are Third Division players and the offer reflects that and there is a reduction. "It is a reduction in the amount of the basic wage but the way this football club wants it to go will see incentives for players both individually and collectively. "And in that respect it can be made up to more money than they were on last year. We do not mind paying decent money if we are successful." But Curle knows while he waits on the response from his players, there is disappointment among the seven who have been released. "It's been difficult," said Curle. "I have got a lot of belief in those players. "But we have had to let them go to resurrect their careers. It is a case of maybe taking a step down for the younger ones to get first team football. "Then they can step back up again. It is a chance for them to forge their own careers and identities and hopefully in a year they will look at it as the best decision I could have made for them. "But next year I will be looking for a squad of about 21 players. We will be going for quality rather than quantity." Curle is confident he will be able to delve into the transfer market and bring in new blood. Curle added: "I have already started looking and I would like to bring in five new faces. "Releasing the players will free up some funds and I have a list of potential signings." ----------- Curle feels for Vaughan BBC.co.uk Mansfield manager Keith Curle feels defender Tony Vaughan was unfortunate not to be offered a new contract. players to be given a free transfer. Curle told BBC Radio Nottingham: "Tony has done exceptionally well for us and played out of position at left-back. Vaughan, who started 35 matches for the Stags last season, was one of eight "He is unlucky not to be staying with us but I think he would be better off playing for a team that uses three centre backs and we don't do that." |
Latest | June 2004