Archived News from July 2007
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STAGS BACK IN TRAINING
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Dearden takes stock as Stags return
CHAD website, 05 July 2007 By John Lomas BILLY Dearden today began to take stock of what he has player-wise as pre-season training began for Mansfield Town. New boys Martin McIntosh, Dan Martin and John McAliskey met their new team mates for the first time as players reported to Field Mill to be weighed and assessed. This afternoon the hard work will begin in earnest as they start running at Berry Hill Park. All players offered a new deal were there including Irish midfielder Stephen Dawson who is the only one who has not yet agreed to sign on the dotted line. "I will speak to Stephen later," said Dearden. "It is up to him at the end of the day." With Giles Coke's departure this week, Dearden knows he can bring in another player but is in no rush. "If we need to bring someone else in then they have to be a good addition to the squad we have got. "But we will assess what we have first. "I am hoping one or two of the young players will have learned from the experience they gained when they were in the team at the back end of last season when we had so many serious injuries. "I am hoping they will come back physically and mentally stronger and if one or two of them get in the team this season that then they can make it very difficult for other players to get back in." All the players who finished last year sidelined with serious injuries reported back today with only midfielder Jon D'Laryea a week or two behind the rest but expected to be fully fit for the pre-season games. Veteran boss Dearden was not about to start making predictions for the season but said: "When the fixtures kick off on 11th August every club is optimistic about winning the league or getting in the Play-offs. "All I will say is that we've had two poor seasons and that's not good enough - it's as simple as that. "We have to make a big impression from the start as a team and as a football club." |
Latest | July 2007