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Archived News from March 2005

ASAMOAH LATEST / LINCOLN LOAN?
8th March 2005 19:17


AGENT TALKS UP CITY SWOOP
LINCS ECHO, 08 March 2005
Lincoln City want to take out-of-favour Mansfield Town striker Derek Asamoah on loan until the end of the season - according to the player's agent, Charles Collymore.

It is also claimed Imps boss Keith Alexander (pictured left) will consider offering the player a permanent deal, should the 23-year-old impress at Sincil Bank.

The City manager enquired after the pacy frontman, who was put on the transfer list after a public bust-up with Stags caretaker/boss Carlton Palmer before the League Two clash with Rushden 10 days ago.

Palmer, who is expected to be named as full-time Mansfield boss this week, following the sacking of Keith Curle last November for bullying a youth team player, has vowed Asamoah will never play for the Stags again after he refused to fill a role wide on the right of the United attack.

"Lincoln City want to take him on loan to the end of the season with an option to sign him permanently," said Collymore of the former Northampton ace, who has also interested Boston United.

"If we can't reach an amicable solution with Mansfield, it will be better for him to play for a club where he is wanted."

But Collymore insists his player wants to stay at Field Mill.

"It's disappointing," he added. "This is a disagreement between an employer and an employee and there should have been a discreet conversation to resolve the matter.

"Derek does not want to leave Mansfield. He does prefer to play as a striker, but he is happy to play wherever he is asked."

Alexander admits he is looking to bring in another striker.

Frontmen Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Francis Green are currently enduring a barren patch in front of goal which has contributed to the Imps losing successive League Two games for the first time this season.

However, he insists he will not pay a fee for Asamoah, who still has a year of his contract to run.

"The fact of the matter is I made an enquiry about Derek Asamoah a couple of weeks ago because he wasn't in the side," said the City boss.

"But Mansfield want money for him.

"He's on good wages and I'm not prepared to pay a fee for him.

"They want to get rid of him but also want a fee, so at this moment in time there's nothing more to be said.

"He's just one of a number of forwards I've enquired after because apart from Simon Yeo, who is scoring regularly, we're struggling for goals. We need to bring people in to kick-start our season again."
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BBC.co.uk:
No talks with Asamoah - Alexander
Lincoln City manager Keith Alexander has denied holding talks with Mansfield striker Derek Asamoah.
The Imps boss said he expressed an interest in Asamoah, but added he was looking at several players in a bid to increase the club's options in attack.
"I made an inquiry about Asamoah a couple of weeks back," Alexander told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
"They want to get rid of him. They want a fee for him and at this moment in time there's no more to be said on it."

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Lincs Echo:
Boston United have admitted defeat in the chase to sign Mansfield Town's bad boy striker Derek Asamoah.

Pilgrims boss Steve Evans this week stepped up his efforts to sign the former Northampton hitman, who is currently on the transfer list at Field Mill.

But Boston faced stiff competition from three clubs for his signature, with one believed to be promotion-chasing county rivals Lincoln City.

But Evans has now conceded defeat, stating other clubs involved in the chase far outweigh the Pilgrims in terms of being able to pay the sort of wages Asamoah would command.

He now accepts he will have to look elsewhere in a bid to boost his frontline, which has been without Daryl Clare in recent weeks because of a thigh strain.

"I have spoken to Mansfield boss Carlton Palmer more than my wife this week," said Evans.

"But once I found out Lincoln and a couple of other clubs were involved, our hopes diminished by the minute because they can out-pay us in wages.

"Derek would have been a good acquistiion for us, but it wasn't to be I'm afraid, so we will just have to keep looking at boosting our midfield and attacking options."

Asamoah was placed on the transfer list by Palmer after breaching club discipline before last Saturday's goalless draw at Rushden and Diamonds.

Palmer has told the 23-year-old he can leave on a free transfer just eight months after arriving at the club from League Two rivals Northampton Town.

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EARLIER STORY:

IMPS EYE UP ASAMOAH
Evening Post, 05 March 2005
MARK ROACH

Lincoln City want to take Mansfield Town striker Derek Asamoah on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move.

Asamoah was put on the transfer list after a bust-up with boss Carlton Palmer before the Stags' League Two clash with Rushden and Diamonds last Saturday.

But his agent Charles Collymore says his player wants to stay at Field Mill.

"It's very disappointing," he said.

"This is a disagreement between an employer and an employee and there should have been a discreet conversation first to try to resolve the matter.

"Derek does not want to leave Mansfield.

"It's true that he does prefer to play as a striker but he is happy to play wherever he is asked - he is only interested in playing for Mansfield."

Palmer says Asamoah will not play for Stags again while he is in charge.

Collymore added: "Lincoln City want to take him on loan to the end of the season with an option to sign him permanently.

"But he wants to stay at Mansfield. He has just bought a second house there.

"But if we can't reach an amicable solution with Mansfield then it will be better for him to play for a club where he is wanted."

 

Latest | March 2005