Archived News from June 2006
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RHYS DAY: THE BOSS NEVER RATED ME
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THE BOSS NEVER RATED ME CLAIMS RHYS
BY Matt Halfpenny, Evening Post, 05 June 2006 Disappointed Rhys Day feels he was not offered a new contract at Mansfield because boss Peter Shirtliff did not rate him as a player. The long-serving central defender was released just after the end of the season. Day, 23, missed a considerable chunk of the campaign after having a hernia operation. But he believes that had no bearing on the decision - his boss simply did not think he was good enough. "My last two seasons have been interrupted by injury and that hasn't helped my cause because I haven't been able to do myself justice," said Day. "I felt I was playing well under Carlton Palmer at the start of the season but then Peter got the job and I think he showed what he thought of me straight away. "I was dropped after just one game at Macclesfield after he took over and I always felt from then on that he didn't really fancy me. "I kept training hard and stayed professional about it and I eventually got back in the side and did okay around Christmas and in the FA Cup game at Newcastle. "But then I had the hernia operation and after that I found it hard to get back into the side. "I got on with Shirty - there were no arguments or anything like that - but I always felt like I was third choice, when I felt I was first choice under previous managers. "When I played well, I still didn't think that he was backing me 100%. I'm not sure why that was and I asked him why he had released me but he said he didn't think it was right to go into it." Former Welsh under-21 international Day was less than pleased at the way he found out he had no future at Field Mill. He felt those players not being retained should have been given more notice. Day said: "I wasn't impressed with the way that we were told and I don't think some of the other players were either. "We didn't find out until the Monday after the season had finished and I thought it could have been handled better." But Bridgend-born Day will still have happy memories of his time at Mansfield, where he has been since a successful loan spell from Manchester City turned into a permanent transfer in late 2002. After buying a house and settling down in the town, he is hopeful he can earn a new deal at a club close by. "I have played some of the biggest games of my career at Mansfield, including the play-off final in Cardiff and the match at Newcastle, which are memorable even though we lost them both," said Day. "I got on well with everyone at the club and I always had a good relationship with the fans so it's disappointing to be leaving those behind. "I haven't heard much yet about my future, but I have got a few people on the case and I'm hoping to get fixed up when we get closer to the start of the new season. "I want to get somewhere close by because I am happy in the area. "It might prove a bit awkward if I come back with another club, but I hope the supporters would understand." |
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