Archived News from June 2004
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DISLEY MOVE TO BRISTOL ROVERS CONFIRMED
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Disley relishes Rovers move
BBC.CO.UK Midfielder Craig Disley says he did not have to think twice about leaving Mansfield Town to join Bristol Rovers. The 22-year-old left his hometown club after signing a two-year contract at the Memorial Stadium. He told Rovers' website: "I had no choice but to sign, it was a deal I couldn't turn down. "This club looks like it is going in the right direction and Ian Atkins really sold the club to me, and I had no hesitation in signing." --------- Bristol Rovers Official Site: NO HESITATION IN SIGNING - DISLEY Craig Disley says he had no hesitation in agreeing to leave his hometown club Mansfield Town in favour of a two-year deal with Rovers. The 22-year-old midfielder began pre-season training with his new team-mates today, having officially put pen-to-paper at the Memorial Stadium at the end of last week. Craig becomes the latest in a series of new signings for the Pirates, with Ian Atkins expected to make a number of others over the coming days and weeks. “I'd been at Mansfield since I was 16, so in some ways it was a hard decision for me to make,” Craig told bristolrovers.co.uk, “But this looks like a club that's going in the right direction, and when I came down here Ian Atkins, really sold the club to me, and I had no hesitation in signing, although I have to give credit to Paul really (Paul Molesworth, chief scout) who played a big part in getting me down here. “Leaving Mansfield was hard because I've got a family to think of and I've got to uproot them, and I don't know many people down here. But I had no choice but to sign really, it was a deal I couldn't turn down. At the end of the day I want to further my career, and on that front it was an easy decision, because this was a better move for me. “I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think we were going to get out of this division, and looking at the players we have and the new signings, I think we've got a really good chance of going up, and I hope to be a part of that.” For a player still in his early 20s Craig undoubtedly has a healthy number of games under his belt, a figure he's only looking to improve on over the 2004/05 campaign. ”I've played 150 or 160 games which is quite a lot for a 22-year-old,” he said, “And hopefully I'll be able to bring some of that experience to the team. I scored four goals last season but I want to score more next season, and although I prefer a central midfield role, I did play left, right and centre last season, and am happy to play anywhere if I'm in the side.” Although Craig is adamant that leaving Mansfield for the Pirates is definitely the right decision for him, he departs his former employers with nothing but good wishes for the future. “I really wish them all the best and hope they do well next season,” he said, “It was a massive disappointment the way last season ended in the play-off final, especially losing on penalties, but you have to move on from these things. “I'm at Bristol Rovers now with a two-year deal and the option of a third if I play so many games in the second year, and that gives me a bit of stability as well. I'm relishing the challenge ahead, and although I know it's been a bad few years here, this is a massive club with a big catchment area. If this team is playing well and getting results, the place will be full to the rafters, and it's got to be our aim to get promoted and get people into the stadium week-in week-out to watch us.” |
Latest | June 2004