Archived News from May 2002
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WATKISS BIDS TO EASE MIDFIELD BURDEN
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WATKISS BIDS TO EASE MIDFIELD BURDEN
Evening Post, 21 May 2002 MANSFIELD Town boss Stuart Watkiss has set his sights on bringing another midfielder to the club. Watkiss believes he needs another central midfielder to ease the burden on rising stars Lee Williamson and Craig Disley. Both players exploded onto the scene during Stags' promotion campaign but tired towards the end. Watkiss brought in Adam Murray from Derby on loan to allow the pair to rest and he intends to take a different approach next season. Williamson, who will not be 20 until next month, featured in all 51 matches Stags played last season and Disley would have played more than 39 had he not spent six weeks on the sidelines with a twisted knee. Watkiss said: "Last year we had two playing about 40 games and one playing ten and we were stretched. "What I want to do is have three midfielders playing 30 games each. "Rotating them will keep them fresh for the new challenge next season." Watkiss is aiming to have a squad of around 20 to 22 players for next season, which will be Stags' first Division two campaign for ten years. Although his side are rated as 66-1 outsiders for the championship, as they were at the beginning of last season, he believes his side's adaptability will be one of their main strengths. He said: "There may be some clubs in Division Two next season with bigger squads than us but I don't know whether they will be more flexible than ours. "We may not have a large number of players but we have got players who are capable of playing in more than one position. "But I am still looking to bring players in." Meanwhile, central defender Adam Barrett has agreed to sign a two-year deal with Division Three club Bristol Rovers. The 22-year-old, who was signed by former Stags boss Billy Dearden in November 2000, was released on a free after previously handing in a transfer request in march. Barrett made a total of 33 appearances last season and Watkiss has already moved to replace him by signing Dion Scott from Walsall and Neil Moore from Telford United. |
Latest | May 2002