Archived News from November 2004
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CARRY ON CARLTON
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CURLE STILL WAITS
Evening Post, 17 November 2004 Keith Curle was today still waiting to learn his fate following his suspension as manager of Mansfield Town. Stags chairman Keith Haslam stated at the weekend that he hoped the matter would be resolved on Monday. But he now says an announcement could be made tomorrow after all elements of the club's internal inquiry, which has finished, have been considered. Curle has been suspended since last Thursday. His assistant John Gannon is also on suspension. Carlton Palmer remains in temporary charge. ------------ Carry on Carlton CHAD CARETAKER manager Carlton Palmer was told to carry on in charge at crisis-torn Field Mill this week as the side prepared for two tough away matches. The former Stockport County boss was brought in 'as a favour' to chairman Keith Haslam when Haslam was forced to suspend manager Keith Curle on Wednesday and, a day later, assistant manager John Gannon Palmer was put in charge over the weekend for the 1-1 FA Cup first round draw with Colchester United at Field Mill where he and Haslam were booed. Curle was initially suspended until Monday following 'a complaint against him' but that suspension has now been extended indefinitely until an internal inquiry decides if Curle should face a disciplinary hearing. That may be sorted by the end of this week. But right now Palmer has been told to prepare the side to travel to high-flying Boston United this Saturday (3pm) with help from youth team coach Paul Holland. And former England player Palmer has already said he would take the job full-time if it were offered. Stags also face a tough trip to Colchester on Tuesday for the FA Cup replay (7.45pm) with the winners away at Rushden and Diamonds on 4th December. To complicate matters Derek Asamoah was given an automatic red card on Saturday and misses both games as well as the home clash with promotion-hunting Leyton Orient, leaving Colin Larkin the only senior striker available. So there are frantic efforts going on to bring in two players before the weekend. Keith Haslam said; "I can understand supporters' frustrations but the whole thing is out of our hands. "A complaint was made to the club which we have to deal with and there are certain procedures that must be adhered to. "It is taking longer than I thought but, then again, I have never been involved in this sort of situation before." Both inquries are being conducted by independent people and the chairman confirmed that the Curle situation is being handled by Mansfield MP Alan Meale and that the Gannon one is a separate matter 'relating to an issue arising on Thursday'. He said: "We have got to stay open-minded about the findings and I would imagine we will have a clearer indication where we are going by the end of the week. We are not in a position to make any judgements yet." Both Haslam and Palmer were subjected to abuse from home supporters near the end of Saturday's game, which attracted less than 3,000 home fans. "I don't think the crowd size was anything to do with the Keith Curle situation as everyone's crowds were down," said Haslam. "And I can understand there being some frustration over all the confusion and rumours. "But some of the criticism didn't really stack up. "Why boo Carlton for taking off Wayne Corden when he was probably the most substituted player under Keith Curle? "And some supporters even applauded Derek Asamoah off the field after he had been sent off for an horrendous tackle, which was out of character and for which he is sorry. "We needed fans to get behind the 10 men left to battle against 11 for that last nine minutes, not boo. "People must understand what a good side Colchester are. The week before Bradford were delighted to hold them to a draw. "I though we did very well against probably the most organised side we have faced at home all season." Some fans have questioned Palmer's track record as Stockport manager, should he be appoointed full time. But Haslam said: "We do not have a vacancy right now so that isn't an issue I need to discuss. Keith Curle is our manager until decisions are reached. Palmer calmly shrugged off his baptism of fire on Saturday and said: "I was pleased with the result. "I believe Mansfield are 12th in the table, without a win in six games, and playing against a side from a division higher and I've come in on a Thursday and got a result. "The supporters booed me for my substitutions but both were tactical ones I believed were right. "I know some supporters may feel Keith Curle has been unlucky or treated badly. "But Keith got this job through me and I helped to keep him in this job last year. "I am nothing to do with what is happening here with Keith right now but if Keith Curle, for some reason, was no longer the manager, and the chairman rang me to offer me the job, I would take it. "I was delighted with the players. "What is happening off the field is not my problem but it would be to everyone's benefit if it was resolved quickly which is what the chairman is trying to do. "I would love to have won the game and I thought we did enough to win it. We hit the post, got lots of crosses in and had a stone cold penalty turned down in the first half. "I don't like to play that kind of system bu,t with what I had in the football club, I had no choice on Saturday." Colchester manager Phil Parkinson added: "It was quite an even field with both sides having to make changes and I think we could have won it. "I thought we controlled the game but it is going to be difficult away from home when the home side plays 4-5-1 and sits back and lets us have the ball. So there wasn't a lot of goalmouth action. "Carlton had come in and seemed to be trying to consolidate a bit. "But I was pleased with my lads. Their attitude and commitment were as they should be and I am pleased to be in the hat and look forward to the replay." Keith Haslam confirmed he was making stringent efforts to bring in new faces to bolster a wafer-skin squad before Saturday. He hopes to bring in two players, at least one being a striker. But efforts to land Luke Beckett have ended after he signed for Championship side Sheffield United. |
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