{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from August 2009

CRAWLEY PREVIEWS,VENTRELLA SIGNS DEAL,NAYLOR LOAN
14th August 2009 22:05



David Holdsworth interview --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/FromTheBoss/0,,10325~1746786,00.html
Holdsworth on signing Jason Ventrella, and on Tom Naylor going to Belper Town on loan.

------------

Jason Ventrella signs two year contract --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1746562,00.html

---------------

Stags sign young full-back
Evening Post, August 07, 2009

MANSFIELD have today signed teenager Jason Ventrella on a two-year contract.
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-sign-young/article-1234487-detail/article.html

The 17-year-back has agreed a deal after impressing in the Stags' pre-season game with Hartlepool United.
Ventrella was previously playing for South Notts College.
He will be available for tomorrow's opening Blue Square Premier game of the season against Crawley.

--------------

Supporters urged to cheer Stags on to promotion glory
CHAD.co.uk, 07 August 2009, By Stephen Thirkill
THE Mansfield Town faithful can help cheer their boys on to promotion glory, according to boss David Holdsworth.

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Supporters-urged-to-cheer-Stags.5533999.jp

The determined gaffer issued the rallying cry to the Field Mill fans as Stags prepare to get their promotion push underway at home to Crawley tomorrow.

Throughout the season the Stags board have worked hard to bring the supporters flocking back to the Mill with cut-price season tickets and community events.

And so far their efforts seem to have paid off with good pre-season crowds attending the home friendlies against Leicester City and Hartlepool United.

Holdsworth said: "There is a good feel-good factor around the club and a lot of excitement with the season so close. People in the town are buying into our brand and what we are trying to achieve.

"Slowly but surely we are attracting more people. I am delighted we are starting our season at home and I want the fans to be our extra man.

"I want them to make this the loudest most intimidating ground in this division.

"The fans have been excellent in pre-season and have turned out in good numbers. People are away at this time of year but they have still turned out and I'm thankful to the fans for the way they have been and have well they have welcomed the new players."
----------------
Stags raring to go as new season closes in
CHAD.co.uk, 07 August 2009, By Stephen Thirkill
STAGS boss David Holdsworth is confident he has assembled a squad capable of challenging for promotion back to the Football League.

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-raring-to-go-as.5533866.jp

Focused Holdsworth has significantly strenghtened the Mansfield Town squad over pre-season with the addition of 12 new players, mostly with good experience of life in the football league.

And with the start of the new season one day away Holdsworth is content with his side's pre-season form and the quality of squad on offer.

"The work I put in started in late March with recruiting players out of contract," said Holdsworth.

"There were two targets I wanted to bring to the club, but they went to Football League clubs and we cannot compete with that.

"Pre-season has been very successful and I'm sure the players can't wait to get started tomorrow. I am very pleased with the competition we have all over the pitch.

"I have had to work hard to get the balance right in terms of finances, but not one player came back to me wanting more money.

"Some players came from higher clubs or took pay cuts. They all want to play for me and for Mansfield Town and that is really pleasing."

And as well as having a much bigger squad Holdsworth is also confident he has the perfect blend of players to cope with the different challenges thrown up by the league.

"We have got good competition for places here and it is hard to pick a first eleven,"he said. "There will be some players that miss out, but they will get their chances later.

"Against Crawley there is one player who will miss out but who is likely to play on Tuesday.

"We have got a healthy appettite in the dressing room and on the pitch. Teams reflect their managers and I have passion and a desire to win and so do my players.

"We need to be aggressive and strong but also to use our brains out there. We also need to be strong and disciplined.

"We have a very tough opening three months and me and my coaching staff now have to get the best out of our squad.

"The players have worked hard in training and put their heads down and I am really pleased with their attitude.

"There is a real feel-good factor all around the club, confidence is high and the players are enjoying training.

"We have prepared as best as we can, we couldn't have done any more than what we have and the team is ready to go."

----------------

Stags striker Clare hopes for chance to shoot down old boss
Evening Post, August 07, 2009

DARYL Clare is not a big fan of sitting on the bench, nor is it something he has had to endure very often in his career.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-striker-Clare-hopes-chance-shoot-old-boss/article-1231539-detail/article.html

But such are the striking options at Field Mill these days, the prolific front man knows a starting berth for the first game of the new season against Crawley Town tomorrow is by no means a formality.
Clare did his cause for selection no harm last weekend by scoring in Mansfield's 2-1 defeat to Hartlepool United.
But boss David Holdsworth has mixed up his selections in pre-season to such an extent that the 31-year-old is still to discover his fate.
"There is big competition for places and I don't think anyone is guaranteed a place against Crawley," said Clare.
"The boss has got so many options and there are a number of ways we can go.
"I think different sides will be picked for different games home and away.
"I would love to play against Crawley, it will be a great game.
"The friendlies have gone well on the whole, but they don't mean a great deal and it is all about this first league game."
Outspoken Crawley boss Steve Evans may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he did get the best out of Clare.
The pair were together at Boston United when the Pilgrims clinched the Conference title in 2001-2002 to earn promotion to the Football League.
United lost just eight games all season as Clare netted 24 times to spearhead the attack.
He is looking forward to seeing his old gaffer – even though he will be doing his utmost to ensure he doesn't enjoy his visit to north Notts.
Clare said: "Crawley will be aggressive, determined and in good condition.
"Steve Evans always has his teams up for it and he will be motivating them.
"But there are not many teams who come to Field Mill and get a result and we have prepared as well as any side in the division.
"Steve is a character and he gets his players fired up and ready – that's his style.
"All managers are different but when you play against someone who has been your boss before, friendships go out of the window.
"I will be completely focused on doing a job for Mansfield and if I could score a couple in the game, that would be great."
Clare has worked hard during the close season to get himself in the best possible shape.
He now confidently expects to reward Holdsworth and the club's supporters by regularly getting his name on the scoresheet.
"I feel like I have now got 12 weeks of work behind me," said Clare. "The manager knew when he signed me that I was out of condition.
"But he has stuck by me. It's been a long road and now I am starting to feel the benefits.
"My target is to get 20 goals at least and I don't care whether they come from two yards or 20 yards. I'm not happy unless I am scoring goals."
Clare's strike against Pools was his first in pre-season and he almost backed it up with another, hitting the bar from a free-kick.
The former Chester hitman feels set-pieces could be a lucrative source of goals.
He said: "I'm confident in taking free-kicks and I like to have a go from that distance.
"To me, it is an opportunity to score and if that had gone in against Hartlepool, it would have been a nice birthday for me.
"I think when we play our big strong boys we will get knock downs and be a threat from free-kicks and corners.
"It will be an area where we can get lots of goals, no doubt about it."
Clare must now wait to see if he gets that opportunity.

------------------------

Stags boss: It's a marathon, not a sprint
Evening Post, August 07, 2009

MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth insists no one should get carried away with tomorrow's opening day result against Crawley Town – win lose or draw.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-boss-s-marathon-sprint/article-1232408-detail/article.html

This first game of the Stags' new Blue Square Premier season has been given a massive build-up after a raft of summer signings.
Holdsworth is desperately keen to get off to a winning start and preserve his unbeaten home record in charge in competitive fixtures.
But he claims there will be no panic should the Red Devils take the points.
"We are thoroughly looking forward to the season, but likewise, it is not just about the first game," said Holdsworth.
"Our preparation has been based on the whole season. We have remained calm and collected and the players are very focused.
"You are not going to get relegated on the first game of the season.
"The players are hungry and we have to keep the exposure and confidence right.
"We don't want to be over-confident but assured and keep the highs and lows to a minimum."
Crawley were the visitors for Holdsworth's first game in charge of Mansfield back in January. The Stags won 1-0 with Rob Duffy's first half volley sealing the points in a bruising encounter.
Holdsworth added: "I had a feeling at the end of the season that we would end up playing Crawley first.
"If you play a Steve Evans side (Crawley's manager) you would be disappointed if you were not in a battle.
"Hopefully we can turn it into a victory for us, but we certainly won't be under-estimating them."
Holdsworth added it has been hard to decide who to leave out of the squad.
"It is difficult telling three or four who can play on any given Saturday that they are not going to be involved."

----------------------

CTFC - Posted 7th August 2009
http://crawleytownfc.com/newsdetails.php?ID=1231

Reds boss Steve Evans takes his troops into battle for what he believes will be the strongest ever Conference Premier campaign.

Evans believes Saturdays opposition Mansfield Town are true Championship contenders alongside Luton Town, Stevenage Borough, Oxford United, Wrexham and York City in a season where finance could be crucial.

The manager has fitness doubts with Adam Quinn and Thomas Pinault but both will start at Field Mill should they come through Fridays training session unscathed.

Steve Evans said; “I expect Mansfield Town to compete to be this seasons Conference Premier Champions. David Holdsworth has the backing of a good board of directors and on paper has recruited a squad of the highest calibre.

“Mansfield Town also have some excellent supporters who we know will get behind them. As a minimum we need some strong match officials who will give what they see and not what they hear.

“The boys here are all looking forward to starting the new season and no one has to tell them we face a real test at Mansfield, they already know that. Our boys here are very fit and they will be prepared in an exemplary fashion for Mansfield Town and every other match we play over the season.

“If Adam and Thomas are fit they will be involved but if either of them is less than one hundred per cent fit they will be watching from the stand.

“I heard the Mansfield Town manager, David Holdsworth, say he was giving us no clues to his team selection. He described his teams identity as private much like he was playing poker. I may not have as many options as David, given the small size of squad we have here, but if David can guess my starting team for Saturday I will leave him a nice bottle of Red wine for his Sunday lunch. On a serious note he will have his team organised, disciplined and work as hard as any team we face over the course of the season. In summary, David in his short time at Field Mill, has done a magnificent job.

“I expect us to work extremely hard, be efficient in the jobs we have to do on the pitch and work to the game plan we have worked on, anything else is a bonus.

“I will get on the team coach on Saturday morning with a talented squad of lads who will give me, as their manager, everything they have and I can never ask anymore than that.”

The new seasons action will get underway at Field Mill on Saturday afternoon, kick off 3pm. Supporters are advised that the team will be wearing their new Red kit for this important opening day Blue Square Premier fixture.

 

Latest | August 2009