Archived News from July 2008
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PLAYER NEWS / MCEWAN WANTS RESERVE SIDE
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McEwan targets second Stags signing in 2 days
CHAD.co.uk, by John Lomas, 09 July 2008 BILLY McEwan spent another full day on the phone on Wednesday as he battles to build a Mansfield Town squad from almost scratch. On Tuesday night he managed his first major success in striker Mark Stallard and is hoping he may have another name added - maybe as early as Wednesday. Full story here "Normally I am out on the training ground from day one with the players," he said late on Wednesday afternoon. "But I have not got many so I have been stuck inside again all day which is not something I am used to. "I have a list over 500 names here and am sorting the wheat from the chaff. I know names I would have wanted to bring in from before I got the job. "But sometimes it is not that easy as other clubs are interested and players want to hold out as long as they can to stay in the League which I can understand. Dropping to a Conference club can be a last resort. "Hopefully the signing of a player like Mark Stallard will send a signal out. It shows we want to bring in players of that calibre and quality. "We were fortunate enough to be in there at the right time. "Mark is a player who has the knack of putting the ball in the net which is not a bad habit. "The good thing is he wanted to come here and play for us. He is not chasing money and will earn nothing like he is used to here. "But he understands the situation and wants to come and help us. "We have a tight budget and I can't splash money around or we will end like Halifax. We have to build the club back up." McEwan had a squad of 18-20 players during his time at York with something like 12 contracted players plus loan players and non-contract players. But he admitted he would like enough in the building to see a return of a reserve team to Field Mill. "I would like to think we can have a reserve team," he said. "Or there would be a void between the youth and first teams and some players would hardly get a game. "It's an important part of a club structure. It's like building a house. If the foundations are not strong it falls down. "Or like painting and decorating. If you don't do the preparation properly, the paint soon flakes off." -------------- McEwan wants Mansfield reserve team Evening Post, 09/07/2008 Mansfield manager Billy McEwan today revealed he is keen to run a competitive reserve side during the new season. Full story here It is understood the Stags have had a place left open for them to join the Pontins League after enquiries made by previous boss Paul Holland. Newly-installed McEwan is also keen to have a second string, believing a club should have a structure from top to bottom. "I would like to think we can have a reserve team. We have got a youth team and then a void to the first team with nothing in between," he said. "If you don't have one then you first year pros are not going to get all that many competitive games. "I put an infrastructure in place before at York with an under-16s, academy, youth and reserve teams, right through to the first team. "You are now starting to see players come through at York from that an already one has gone to have a trial at Manchester United. "It's important and is part of what I am talking about when I say about building up a football club. "It's like building the foundations for a house. If you don?t do them, then the house will just fall down. The preparation has to be right." |
Latest | July 2008