Archived News from August 2007
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BELL AGREES DEAL
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STAGS BID TO SNAP UP RISING STAR BELL
Evening Post, 01 August 2007 Mansfield are hopeful midfielder Lee Bell will put pen to paper on a deal at Field Mill by the end of the week. The 24-year-old was released by Crewe at the end of last season and has been training with the Stags for the past three weeks. He played in the 2-0 win against Derby and impressed again in the 5-0 victory at Alfreton Town on Monday night. Manager Billy Dearden said a contract had been agreed and it was now a matter of the midfielder signing it. Dearden said: "We have agreed a contract with him and it is up to him now. He is going to sign it this week, hopefully. "He played against Alfreton and did well and he is enjoying it here. He knows what we are all about and in the three weeks he has been here the lad has trained hard, got fitter and sharper, just like everybody else. "Obviously there are one or two that are a little bit sharper than others but you will always have that." With Jonathan D'Laryea sidelined following a second operation on his ankle and Giles Coke having joined Northampton, the signing of Bell will boost the midfield options available to Dearden. Bell, who can also play on the right-hand side of midfield, spent the tail-end of last season on loan at Burton Albion. Bell agrees Stags deal CHAD WEBSITE, 30 JULY 2007 By John Lomas MANSFIELD Town were given another boost ahead of tonight's latest pre-season friendly at Conference North neighbours Alfreton Town (7.45pm) when midfielder Lee Bell agreed to sign for the Stags. The 24-year-old former Crewe Alexandra player has impressed in pre-season training and, after spending several days mulling over a contract offer from Mansfield, he has decided to accept it, despite three offers from other clubs. "We have shaken hands on a deal, subject to a medical," said manager Billy Dearden. "He has agreed to join us for the season and I am very pleased. "From day one Lee has been bright and worked very hard. And if he can get back to playing how he was playing 12 months ago with Crewe then who knows what could happen with Lee?" With Stephen Dawson already agreeing to his new contract, the acquisition of Bell eases the pressure on Dearden to find midfielders following the departure of Giles Coke and injury to Jon D'Laryea. But Dearden said the door was still open for more players if required. "We have Dawson and Bell and we also have Dan Martin and Danny Sleath who can play in there along with Nathan Arnold and Matt Hamshaw," he said. "I am just going to play it by ear and if I think I need someone then I will get one in. "We are all right if we all stay fit. We don't have the biggest of squads but we will be okay if we steer clear of injuries. Rory Boulding will miss tonight's game with a thigh strain from Saturday's superb 2-0 win over Derby County which could keep him out for a week or two. Simon Brown is back with the club after a week's muscle strengthening at Lilleshall National Rehabilitation Centre and will spend today being assessed by Stags physio Paul Madin. He could be back in training this week but is unlikely to figure in Saturday's game against Huddersfield Town at Field Mill. "Simon has not had 90 minutes of football yet so I shouldn't think he will be involved on Saturday. But we do have other games in which he can get some football under his belt. "At Alfreton I will play three or four of the lads who started on Saturday that I think need another game. I will also play all of the subs from Saturday in what will be a mixed team. "Alfreton are a good side and, with Nicky Law in there as manager, they will be looking to put one over on us. "It is a good local game fo us and we need to play in the right spirit and give a good account of ourselves." |
Latest | August 2007