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Archived News from May 2005

STAGS AGREE DEAL FOR BACON
24th May 2005 22:20


BACON MOVES TO STAGS - FOR SMALLER SLICE OF PAY
Evening Post, 24 May 2005
MARK ROACH

Mansfield have agreed a deal with Hucknall Town striker Danny Bacon.

But the Stags are in a battle with Stockport County for Blackpool defender Rob Clare's signature.

Manager Carlton Palmer decided he wanted to sign Bacon after seeing the player in action at Villa Park in Sunday's FA Trophy final.

The forward has agreed a one-year deal for a second spell at Field Mill - but for less than he earns at Hucknall.

"I watched Danny and thought he did well, looked fit and strong and had a good attitude," said Palmer.

"We have agreed a deal that means he will be earning less but he wants to get back into league football and he is Mansfield through and through."

Goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington appears close to agreeing a new contract, but Stockport have emerged as a threat to Clare's move to Field Mill.

Stockport boss Chris Turner said: "He's a very versatile player and as next season's squad will be smaller that is very important."

But Palmer said: "With Alex John-Baptiste and Rob Clare I believe I will have two of the best centre-halves in this division. I have also had talks with other players. Chris Beardsley is still on the cards and I have been speaking to a Championship club about a player.

"He is proven at Championship level and has played in the Premiership.

"His club has agreed a complicated deal and it is up to to the player if he wants to drop down a couple of levels."

Palmer hopes to make his first appearance as a Stags player in a pre-season home friendly against Derby on Saturday, July 16 (3pm).

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Palmer brings home 'the Bacon' for Stags
CHAD, 23 May 2005
STAGS boss Carlton Palmer is bringing 'the Bacon' home already!
For former Stags striker Danny Bacon has agreed to return to his home town club on a one-year deal just a day after appearing in the FA Trophy final for Hucknall Town.
Bacon (24) came through the Stags youth set-up to make 18 first team starts, another 38 as substitute and score five goals.
But his chances were ravaged by a string of injuries and after a successful loan spell at non-League Hucknall Town he signed for them full-time two years ago.
There he has been a revelation, culminating in the 25 goals he scored this season, including one in Sunday's showpiece against Grays Athletic at Villa Park.
"I went to watch Danny on Sunday and was impressed," said Palmer. "I didn't realise just how quick he is.
"But Danny knows he is 24 now and needs to make hay.
"I know he was desperate to get back into League football and sometimes when a player drops out the League and gets a second chance he really grabs it with both hands.
"It says a lot that Danny is prepared to take a drop in wages to come back here and play for us. But I am not taking advantage of him because he is a local lad and Mansfield through and through.
"Like another lad of his ilk that I want to bring in on the same money, I have told him to get in the first team, score some goals and then come back and knock my door down."
Dream
Bacon added: "I never thought I would be back here.
"It was always a dream come true to play for my local team and I love the club.
"It is an idea move for me as I still live round the corner and there is no real travelling involved.
"With all the injuries I had when I was at Mansfield before I don't think fans ever really saw the best of me.
"But I have matured now as a man and a person and I am back and ready for it. I want to prove people right and show I can score goals for Mansfield.
"Carlton Palmer has brought some very good young players into the club and, at 24, it even makes me feel I am getting on!"
Bacon was disappointed with Hucknall's penalties defeat on Sunday but said: "It was a great day out to play at Villa Park.
"It was heart-wrenching to lose. But one team had to lose and, unfortunately, it was us."
Bacon is the first of Palmer's striker targets to sign.
He has spoken to a Championship club about taking a player with Premiership experience and said: "I have agreed a deal with his club and now the lad has gone away to think about it.
"He is away for two weeks and then will come back with an answer. I have no idea how close we are with this one.
"But he is a proven goalscorer and a good player.
"It is a difficult decision for the lad and the deal with his club is a complicated one. But I am hopeful it will come off."
One player who will not be joining Stags is Forest Green Rovers goal ace Charlie Griffin.
Furious
The 25-year-old has signed for League Two rivals Wycombe Wanderers and Palmer was furious.
"The player came to see me and then signed a two-year deal with Wycombe the next day without giving us an option to increse our offer," he said.
"The boy had left me a message on my answerphone saying he was impressed with the club and what we wanted to do. So I am disappointed and feel we were used. That's the influence of agents these days."
There is no movement on Palmer's efforts to bring in another former Stags striker, Chris Beardsley.
Kidderminster are holding out for a fee, but Palmer said: "We will sit tight for now.
"It's silly really as we have offered a decent deal and they are still having to pay his wages.
"But things could all change down there if the club is taken over."
Palmer feels he is a step closer to agreeing a new deal with goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington.
"We are getting very close to sorting a deal and I hope he will now put pen to paper.
"He has been a great pro for this club and I think Kevin is now starting to understand what I am doing in making wages more incentive-based so we all benefit from success.
"It would be great to sign him. He is an important part of the jigsaw. But Jason White is the current holder of the jersey and Kevin now has a genuine contender for his spot."
Stags players are doing three sessions of training a week in between their holidays and face fitnes level tests on 22nd June.
If all goes well they will then be given another five days off before pre-season training starts properly on Monday, 27th June.
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Chester bid for Doncaster striker
BBC.co.uk
Curle planning clear-out
Doncaster Rovers are considering an undisclosed six-figure bid from Chester City for striker Gregg Blundell.
The 29-year-old has scored 32 times in 96 senior appearances since joining Rovers from Northwich in March 2003.

Having joined when they were in the Conference, he has helped Dave Penney's side earn back-to-back promotions.

Keith Curle, who was appointed as City's manager just before the end of the season, recently revealed plans for a mass clear-out at the Deva Stadium.

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mansfieldtown.net reports that Danny Bacon agrees terms :

Former Stag and Hucknall Town striker Danny Bacon has agreed to return to the Mill after having talks with Carlton Palmer this morning. The twenty three year old who left the Stags after a string of injuries has been plying his trade in non league Hucknall Town where, according to Palmer , he has become a strong and fit player. The deal that will see Danny return to the Mill for an initial period of one year means he will be on less money a week than he is earning at Hucknall but it will be more regular and his foot hold back in league football.

The Stags boss watched the youngster at Villa Park over the weekend and was convinced that he was one of a number of players that he would like to bring to Field Mill for the pre-season.

"I watched Danny at the weekend and thought that he did well he looked fit and strong and had a good attitude.

" He came to the club this morning and we have agreed a deal. It will mean that he will be earning less than he is at Hucknall but he has said that he wants to get back into league football and it is no secret that he is Mansfield through and through" he said.

Meanwhile Shot Stopper Kevin Pilkington is close to agreeing to a new contract and will hopefully be putting pen to paper over the next couple of weeks and Central defender Rob Clare has also agreed to come to Field Mill and is expected to be signing in June.

"With Alex (John-Baptiste) and Rob (Clare) I believe that I will have two off the best centre halves in this division" said Palmer.

"I have also had talks with other players. Chris Beardsley is still on the cards and I have been speaking to a Championship club about bringing in one of their players. I do not want to say too much at the moment but he is proven at Championship level and has even played at Premiership level. His club has agreed terms in a complicated deal but it is upto to the player, if he wants to drop down a couple of levels to play for us" he added

Palmer himself has undertaken a very strict training regime which has being specifically designed for his needs by the sports scientists at the club and hopes to be making his first appearance in the pre-season friendly against Derby County at Field Mill on Saturday 16th July (kickoff 3.00pm)

 

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