Archived News from December 2008
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NEW MANAGER TO BE UNVEILED TODAY
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29 Dec 2008
Full story at mansfieldtown.net here --------------- Mansfield Town to unveil Holdsworth as new manager on Monday? CHAD.co.uk, 28 December 2008 , by Tim Morriss MANSFIELD Town are set to give their fans a late Christmas present on Monday - a new manager. And Chad believes the club's seventh boss in four years WILL be recent favourite for the hot-seat David Holdsworth - a central defender who played 570 first team matches at various Football League clubs and once commanded a £1mplus transfer fee. Full story at CHAD.co.uk here The Ilkeston manager was offered the job on Christmas Eve, but then negotiations between the Unibond Premier club and the Stags to secure Holdsworth's release from his one-year contract were held up over the festivities. That led to Mansfield chairman Andy Perry saying the Stags were also in talks with a second unidentified manager - and only wanted a boss who could come with the blessing of his club. But sources at Ilkeston on Sunday evening told Chad that the two clubs have now sorted out a deal to allow Holdsworth, a former defender with Watford, Sheffield United and Birmingham City, to finally come to Field Mill with the agreement of The Robins. Stags chairman Perry and Holdsworth both declined to comment on the speculation when contacted by Chad. But it is expected that the rookie boss - who took over his first managerial job, at Ilkeston, only in the summer - will be this week, perhaps as early as Monday morning. He will then be at Field Mill for tomorrow night's match against BSP leaders Burton, although it is expected that caretaker managers Adie Moses and Mart Stallard will take charge of the team. Since taking charge at Ilkeston in the summer, Holdsworth has totally rebuilt the squad and taken the club into the play-off places - catching the eye of several clubs looking for a new manager, including Grimsby in League Two. Holdsworth (40), ambitious and highly rated, fitted the criteria wanted by the Stags new owners - a young, motivated manager prepared to use modern methods in his coaching . . . a contrast to Billy McEwan, sacked almost three weeks ago after a slide from the top of the BSP to the relegation dogfight. The twin brother of Dean – who was most famous for his time in the Premiership with Wimbledon and Bolton – David Holdsworth played for Watford, Sheffield United, Birmingham City, Walsall, Bolton Wanderers, Scarborough and finally Gretna, and was capped once for England at Under-21 level. His league career began at Watford where he played 250 times for manager Graham Taylor in 10 years at Vicarage Road, before moving to Sheffield United. Then in 1999 Birmingham paid £1.25m for the defender, who had earlier gained one England U21 cap. At the end of his playing career – spanning around 570 first class appearances – Holdsworth helped manager Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers and then became reserve team manager at Gretna. At Gretna he was also appointed director of youth development in May 2006, before being sacked in a cost-cutting exercise a few months later. Holdsworth then did some coaching at MK Dons, but turned down the chance to be assistant to Paul Ince. In the summer of 2008 the new owner of Ilkeston Town, construction tycoon Chek Whyte, brought Holdsworth to the New Manor Ground with a vision for the club within the community. And their hard work has paid off on the field, with the Robins' almost completely new squad in fifth place in the UniBond Premier Division and through to the second round of the FA Trophy. ------------------ 'Second man' in Mansfield Town manager race is not Burr CHAD.co.uk, 28 December 2008 , by Tim Morriss MANSFIELD Town will not be turning to former Hucknall boss Steve Burr if their bid to install David Holdsworth as the next Stags manager fails. Full story at CHAD.co.uk here It was reported on Sunday in a national newspaper that Burr was the club's second 'mystery' managerial target referred to by Mansfield chairman Andy Perry on Boxing Day. But this has been denied by the Stags, who today confirmed Chad's report on Saturday that the Stalybridge manager was not in the frame for the Stags job. Perry told Chad ahead of the 3-1 Boxing Day win at Kettering that the Stags had asked for permission to speak to two current non-league managers in their bid to replace the sacked Billy McEwan. Ilkeston's David Holdsworth appeared to be their first choice, and on Christmas Eve he told Chad that he had been offered the Field Mill job. However, as his release from Ilkeston then became problematical, Perry revealed that the Stags had also approached another club to ask for permission to speak to their boss. Website rumours and a report in the Non-League Paper suggested that manager was Steve Burr - currently the manager of Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic and also assistant to Paul Fairclough at England C. Burr (48) took Hucknall, where he was director of football, to the Unibond Premier title four years ago and into the Conference North. Then he carried out the 'Great Escape' with Northwich, when they overcame a 10-point deduction to stay in the Conference. And it has been rumoured that Burr did feature in the first round of interviews for the Stags job. However, when contacted by Chad, Burr declined to comment on the rumours that he could be the seventh Mansfield manager in four years, simply saying: "I can do nothing about rumours." And sources at Field Mill say he is not the other major contender for the Stags hot-seat if the Holdsworth move falls through. On Boxing Day evening Holdsworth, who is 'delighted' to have been offered the Stags job, said: "It is down to the two clubs to come to an arrangement." However, it is thought that the Stags believed the former Sheffield United defender would be allowed to leave the Unibond Premier side 'for a bigger club'. Now it seems that Ilkeston want some form of compensation for releasing their manager from his contract, which is due to expire in May. The Stags say they have not offered the manager's post to Holdsworth and want the new manager - whoever he is - to come to Field Mill with the backing of his current club. And that means the Stags may turn elsewhere to an un-named non-league manager, described by chairman Perry as an equally strong candidate. On Boxing Day, Perry also told Chad: "Really it is nip and tuck between the two of them, David (Holdsworth) and the other manager." He is now waiting for the Ilkeston chairman and the board from the un-named club to come back to him. However, he did say on Boxing Day that problems with contacting the Ilkeston chairman and the Christmas holidays meant that caretaker managers Adie Moses and Mark Stallard were likely to remain in charge for Monday evening's home match with Burton Albion. And after the caretaker duo guided the Stags to an impressive 3-1 win at Kettering on Boxing Day, some fans are now calling for the duo to be left in charge until the end of the season. ------------------- Mansfield job 'is not cut and dried' - Perry Evening Post, December 27, 2008 Mansfield chairman Andy Perry today denied David Holdsworth has been offered the manager's job outright – but insists he is still a 'very strong' contender. Full story at Evening Post here The Ilkeston boss told thisisnottingham on Christmas Eve he had been given the go-ahead to take charge of the Stags' first team affairs, subject to settling a few loose ends with the Robins. But Perry insists the matter is not quite so cut and dried and says there is a second candidate also in the frame. He said: “We asked David if he would take the job if we offered it to him and he said 'yes'” “But it depends on what Ilkeston do. We said we would probably like to offer him the job if his situation there could be sorted, but until then we couldn't offer it him.” %3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF%3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3D0000b139f7f5f6ff00000000/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISNOTT/AREA%3DFOOTBALL/SUBAREA%3DNONLEAGUE/ARTICLE%3D572286/acc_random%3D8202411102/pageid%3D/RS%3D10307.%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%22http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/house/1x1.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22Click%20here%21%22%20border%3D0%20style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3E“I was disappointed that it came out at the Ilkeston end about David, as much for the Ilkeston fans as us. “But there is nothing guaranteed to happen. There are two people we are talking to and it is a very, very tough decision. “They both equal up in 80 per cent of their capabilities and it is just deciding on that other 20 per cent that has held us back.” Perry says Mansfield are determined to follow the correct procedures in bringing in their successor to Billy McEwan, who was sacked in mid-December. “The other thing is that the better results have helped and they mean we haven't had to rush into a decision,” he said. “We are speaking to both the clubs concerned and they have both given us permission. “Both clubs said their managers could speak to higher clubs, but I don't think either expected it to happen this quickly. “The thing is we want to do things properly. What happened at Leeds is the last thing we want. “We don't want David or the other guy in contention to resign their posts. We want whoever is appointed to come with their club's blessing.” One thing for sure is that caretaker bosses Mark Stallard and Adie Moses will lead the team into Monday night's match with table toppers Burton Albion. The temporary duo have guided the Stags to successive victories over Weymouth and Kettering either side of Christmas. Perry said: “With the short amount of time between the Kettering and Burton games we have already told them they will be leading the side.” “Hopefully that will keep the flow and momentum and Adie and Stall will be taking the players for training tomorrow (Sunday). -------------------------- Mansfield Town still speaking with TWO managers over Stags job CHAD.co.uk, 27 December 2008 , by Tim Morriss THE race to be the next Mansfield Town manager took an unexpected twist on Boxing Day when it was revealed that number one target, Ilkeston boss David Holdsworth, still faces competition from another 'mystery' boss. Full story at CHAD.co.uk here But rumours that the man, whom the Stags have not named, is former Hucknall Town boss Steve Burr - now in charge at Stalybridge - appear wide of the mark. A 'delighted' Holdsworth emerged from talks with the Stags on Christmas Eve to say that he had been offered the vacant manager's job . . . and on Boxing Day evening said that he believes Mansfield and Ilkeston must come to an arrangement to secure his release from The Robins, where he still has five months remaining on his contract. Mansfield's new owners - Andy Perry, Steve Middleton and Andy Saunders - had been given permission to speak to the highly rated 40-year-old on Tuesday evening - first revealed here at Chad.co.uk as we led the way with reports of Holdsworth's links with Field Mill this week. But on Boxing Day Holdsworth remained at Ilkeston, where he is contracted until the end of the season - with confusion over whether his contract includes his release to a 'bigger' club. It is also rumoured that Ilkeston, keen to keep their manager, have offered him an improved deal. Now the Stags have revealed that there is an unidentified strong, second candidate - another young, non-league manager - still involved in negotiations over coming to Field Mill. After guiding Ilkeston to a 12th successive match unbeaten, a 2-2 home draw with Matlock, Holdsworth said on Boxing Day evening: "Our chairman Dennis Harris told me at Heanor (Tuesday) that he had had an approach from Mansfield for me. "I spoke to Mr Perry, the Mansfield chairman. Mansfield have asked me to be their manager – that is as far as I can say. It is down to the two clubs to come to an arrangement. "(If they can't) I will proud to be Ilkeston manager next week again at Hednesford (New Year's Day)." Holdsworth last saw his Ilkeston side beaten back on 29th October, at big spending FC United, and the Boxing Day match attracted the biggest league crowd of the season. The former Sheffield United and Birmingham defender earlier told Chad on Boxing Day morning: "Until I know differently, I will carry on as normal here with Ilkeston . . . I am a professional, have a great set of players here and will carry on the work we have started until I hear otherwise. "Of course, I have aspirations to manage at a higher level and I have found Mr Perry and the Mansfield board very welcoming. "But I have loved my time at Ilkeston and will continue to do my duty to the club." Stags chairman Perry told Chad on Boxing Day: "I have spoken to their (Ilkeston) chairman, but he is on holiday in Wales and not easily contactable because of a poor phone reception. The owner (Chek White) is in Barbados, and with it being Christmas it doesn't make it easy. "It is now upto Ilkeston if they want to release him. They gave us permission to speak to him." Perry also revealed that the Stags are in talks with a second non-league boss about the vacancy, created when Billy McEwan was sacked two weeks ago. It appears that they may turn to this unidentified man if the Holdsworth deal breaks down. The chairman told Chad on Boxing Day: "We have been given permission to speak to two managers by their clubs, David (Holdsworth) and one other. "At the moment nothing is finalised in any way with anyone. "We now have two managers very interested in coming to this club. "The other person has asked us not to reveal his identity. But we were given permission by his club to speak to him and we have done. "He is going to come back to us. "Really it is nip and tuck between the two of them, David (Holdsworth) and the other manager. "Now we are waiting for the chairman (Ilkeston) and the board (the un-named club) to come back to us. "Because of the weekend and Christmas, it could be that we do not get anything sorted ahead of Monday's match with Burton . . . and then we don't have another match for some time, so there is no immediate rush." Caretaker managers Adie Moses and Mark Stallard remained in control of the team for the 3-1 Boxing Day win at Kettering - their second successive victory - and look likely to still be in charge on Monday for the visit of Burton. If Holdsworth does take over, the Stags chairman has said that he would be coming on his own and assess the current Field Mill staff before making a decision on any assistant. Other non-league managers currently in work who have already been linked with the Stags' job include Steve Burr (Stalybridge), Paul Cox (Eastwood), Gary Mills (Tamworth), Jim Harvey (Forest Green) and Mark Cooper (Kettering), though it is thought the Stags have not contacted Cooper. After initially saying he would be interested, Cox also distanced himself from a switch to Field Mill. Burr declined to comment when contacted by Chad on Saturday. ---------------------- |
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