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Archived News from March 2005

AGOGO APPROACH LAUGHED OFF, BUT DIMECH LEAVING
22nd March 2005 14:52


AGOGO'S NOT LEAVING GAS!
BRISTOL EVEING POST, 22 March 2005
Ian Atkins today laughed off claims that Mansfield Town are making an official bid for Bristol Rovers' leading scorer Junior Agogo. Stags boss Carlton Palmer says he made an initial enquiry about the Pirates striker five weeks ago and is now poised to follow it up with a firm offer for the 19-goal marksman.

But both Atkins and Rovers' managing director Mike Turl say they have heard nothing from the Field Mill club. And the Pirates' boss insisted: "Junior is going nowhere."

Palmer spent the second half of his team's weekend visit to the Memorial Stadium in the directors' box after being ordered from the touchline after swearing at referee Grant Hegley.

He said: "We made an enquiry about Agogo about five weeks ago and their manager told us that they had already been offered £300,000 for the player.

"We later found out that this was not the case and have since spoken to the club again. We will be putting in an official bid.

"Our chairman has said that money is available to buy the player, but it depends on whether he is in our reach.

"I'm not sure whether Ian Atkins would let him leave before the summer or not but this is a player that I would like to bring to this football club. We're just going to have to wait and see."

But Atkins responded to the claims by saying: "This is laughable - and if there has been any contact between the clubs, it has not come through me.

"As far as I am concerned, Junior still has a year left on his contract and is going nowhere this season or next because we want to build around him.

"Of course every player has his price, but I think Junior would be well out of Mansfield's range and with all due respect, I think he would see his future lying at a higher level than them.

"We have not worked with Junior all year - and protected him when he went through the ordeal of his court case - to give him away cheaply to someone else. This is just pie in the sky and probably something Carlton has come out with just to try and gee up the Mansfield fans."

Turl added: "Carlton was sat just behind me on Saturday and never mentioned anything about this. We have not heard anything from Mansfield."

Rovers deny they have received a formal bid from any club for Agogo, who cost ??£110,000 when he joined from Barnet in a deal that saw Giuliano Grazioli move the other way two summers ago.
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DEFENDER BEGINS NEW CLUB SEARCH
NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST, 22 March 2005
Luke Dimech has confirmed he is leaving Mansfield Town.

"Carlton Palmer has told me I'm not in his plans," said the Maltese international defender.

"I'm disappointed. Now I just want to find another club as quickly as possible."

Alex Neil, Rhys Day and Tom Curtis are among other players who could be on their way.

But Curtis said: "I want to stay. I've heard rumours, but the manager hasn't told me I'm leaving."

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Latest | March 2005