Archived News from May 2011
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STAGS SIGN LINDON MEIKLE
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Cox captures Meikle mansfieldtown.net, Tue 24 May 2011 Speedy forward Lindon Meikle has today become Paul Cox's second signing as manager, joining from Eastwood Town on an undisclosed fee. http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2365695,00.html? The 23-year-old netted 34 goals in 84 starts for the Badgers and has reportedly attracted the interest of Newcastle, MK Dons and Yeovil in the past. "He is a player I've had under my wing since he was 16 years old. He has bags of potential and was a crowd favourite at Eastwood," manager Paul Cox told mansfieldtown.net "Lindon wants to be part of what we're trying to achieve here and sees the potential in the football club. We match his own ambitions," he added. The Nottingham-based forward has put pen to paper on a one year deal ------------------- Meikle eyeing the net after Stags switch mansfieldtown.net, Wed 25 May 2011 New signing Lindon Meikle is promising plenty of goals next season following his transfer from near-neighbours Eastwood Town two days ago. http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2366902,00.html The 23-year-old forward has followed his fellow teammate Lee Stevenson from Coronation Park as new manager Paul Cox's second signing since taking over the reins less than a week ago. Cox offered Nottingham-based Meikle a one year deal for an undisclosed fee after witnessing at first hand his devastating speed and poacher's instinct which bagged him 34 goals in 84 starts for The Badgers. Speaking to exclusively to mansfieldtown.net, he said: "I've always admired Mansfield Town and was delighted when I got the phone call from Paul Cox. "It is great still being close to home and I've heard many good things from friends of mine who have been and gone at Field Mill like Jon D'Laryea and Anthony Howell. "I've been with Paul since I was 16 or 17 and I'm delighted to have got the opportunity to work with him again. I know what I will get from him and he knows what he will get from me." Meikle says that the decision to move here was an easy one for him despite interest from other parties such is his confidence in Paul Cox's ability to achieve success at Field Mill. The duo have experienced two promotions together in the past five years plus last season's top five finish in the Blue Square Bet North although Eastwood were prevented from taking part in the Play-Offs due to ground grading issues. He added: "I played at Field Mill in the Notts Senior Cup Final which Eastwood won earlier this month. That was before Paul Cox even got the job and I remember thinking when I was getting changed that I would love to play for Mansfield. I suppose it's a bit ironic that I've now ended up here. "You've only got to look at what he (Paul Cox) has done. Since joining Eastwood the standard has gone up massively. The club was not run very well back then and the standard was poor so he has left the club a lot better off than when he found it. "We could have had a shot at getting promoted last season so he's brought the club along way. "I've got every faith in him and every season seems to be a good season. We've never ended up in midtable or anything and in every team talk he says how much he wants silverware at the end of the season." Finally, Meikle is anxious to link up with goalscoring midfielder Lee Stevenson on the pitch again after providing him with much of the ammunition for his 35 goals last season. Joining up with a strike force already including the likes of Paul Connor, he is confidently aiming high for his share of the goals during the 2011/12 campaign. "Last year was our first season together but we (Meikle & Stevenson) gelled straight away. He created a lot of goals for me and I did for him. We've got a good understanding and I'm glad to be able to join him and carry on. "I always try to get 10 goals by Christmas and finish in at least double figures. The main thing is to play well but you have to be optimistic. I only got 11 last season which I'm disappointed with but that's how it goes sometimes. "The fans need to know that there are exciting times ahead. I can find the net and create goals. I have pace, power and can get crowds on the edge of their seats." -------------- Meikle keen to repay Stags' faith Evening Post, 26 May 2011 LINDON Meikle will draw huge confidence from the fact he is seen as an important piece in Mansfield Town's promotion jigsaw. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/mansfieldtownnews/Meikle-keen-repay-Stags-faith/article-3598705-detail/article.html The 23-year-old winger-cum-forward agreed a one-year deal with a one-year option on Tuesday to follow former boss Paul Cox and team-mate Lee Stevenson from Eastwood. He is thrilled to finally get his crack at the professional game having seen fellow Badgers youth team graduates Ben Hutchinson and Colin Daniel achieve that goal. Meikle knows the Stags have the spending power under chairman John Radford to go out and attract some of the top names in the non-league game. But he aims to show there are bargains to be had at Blue Square Bet North level too. "It is an exciting time to join the club when they are showing so much ambition and the chairman is pushing for promotion," said Meikle. "When you think that if we achieve what we want to, 12 months from now we could be playing in League Two, it gives you a real buzz. "When you see all the players that the club could go out and bring in for X amount in wages, it's brilliant they have got faith to come to me to play for them. "I just can't wait to meet all the players and get started because it's a great opportunity." Meikle is convinced that regular, full-time training will make him into a better player. He is soon to step down from his 40-hour-a-week job in a clothing store in Nottingham ahead of a holiday before the start of pre-season. Meikle said: "Some players having been training full-time since they were 15 or 16, but I haven't had that, except when I've been on trial. "You have nothing else to worry about in that case but I have always had to work and have other responsibilities, training at night after a shift. "Training every day can only help me improve my physical fitness, mental strength and skills, plus you are being coached by people from a higher level." ------------ New Stags boss brings in Badgers' star turns chad.co.uk, Thursday 26 May 2011 THE Paul Cox revolution at Field Mill began this week with the signing of two of Eastwood Town's hottest properties from his former club. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/new_stags_boss_brings_in_badgers_star_turns_1_3420947 Ambitious young manager Cox was announced as the replacement for Duncan Russell on Thursday and, as expected, he went straight back to the Badgers' sett to capture the signatures of Lee Stevenson and Lindon Meikle, two of his star men from last season's successful BSB North side, for undisclosed fees. Prolific midfielder Stevenson has netted 96 goals in his last three seasons, including 35 in the campaign just finished, while Meikle (23), who can play as a forward or speedy winger, netted 34 goals in 84 starts for the Badgers. “Lee is one of the hottest proerties in non-League football while I think Lindon will come as a big suprise to a lot of people at this club. They are two excellent players, full of ability, and more importantly, full of desire to win. “Lee could definitely play at League level and has that something you can't coach - he is a natural goalcorer.” Stevenson, who started as a trainee at Sheffield Wednesday, later went on to impress at King's Lynn and Belper Town before signing for Eastwood. After putting pen to paper on a two year deal, he told http://www.mansfieldtown.net: “The season's just finished but I can't wait to get on the training pitch and show everyone what I can do. “I know Jon D'Laryea and Tom Naylor and they say it's a fantastic club. I went to look around other clubs but I got a good feeling about this place.” Meikle has been with Cox at Eastwood since the age of 16 but has also had trials with clubs like Newcastle United and Forest and even had Liverpool monitoring his progress. “Lindon can catch pigeons he is so quick,” said Cox. “Going full-time is definitely going to benefit him fitness wise, technically and tactically as, until now he has only trained twice a week. “He wasn't the fans' favourite at Eastwood for nothing and, if his end product was better, he'd be at Championship level.” He added: “My phone has been going non-stop, mostly with agents offering me players. I need to decide if they want to come here because they are ambitious and want to play for this club or if they just think they can come here and get a big wage packet.” Cox, who will announce a retained list by the end of the week, will begin pre-season on 1st July and is expected to bring in his former Eastwood assistant Richard Cooper to work alongside him. However, after speaking with former Stags assistant boss Paul Hall, he said there could still be a role for Hall next season. Cox also promised his Stags side would not be route one. “You do need a bit of height, presence, power and pace, but the game is all about entertaining,” he said. “We will want to get it wide and get as many balls into the box as possible which centre forwards thrive on.” ------------- |
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