{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from December 2011

STAGS SIGN GARY ROBERTS
31st December 2011 22:28



Stags sign midfielder Roberts
mansfieldtown.net, Fri 30 Dec 2011 5:20pm

Talented midfielder Gary Roberts has signed on a free transfer from Port Vale, we are delighted to announce.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2561498,00.html

The 24-year-old has put pen to paper on an 18 month contract in a deal which will be officially processed on 01 January 2012.

Roberts, who has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels, began his career at Crewe Alexandra, where he made over 120 appearances, before making moves to Yeovil, Rotherham and Port Vale.

"I have kept an eye on Gary for some time, but never thought we would be able to bring a player of his quality to this level of football," said Manager Paul Cox.

"Technically, he is a very gifted footballer, " he added.

Roberts is eligible to play in our New Year's Day game at York City


video interview with Gary Roberts --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2561515,00.html

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

Mansfield Town sign ex-Port Vale midfielder Roberts
chad.co.uk, Friday 30 December 2011

MIDFIELDER Gary Roberts, who has played for England at Under 16, Under 17, Under 18 and Under 19 levels, has signed for Mansfield Town.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/mansfield_town_sign_ex_port_vale_midfielder_roberts_1_4104283

Stags boss Paul Cox has beaten away competition from a number of clubs to capture the signature of Roberts on a free transfer from Port Vale.

The 24-year-old has put pen to paper on an 18-month contract in a deal which will officially be processed on 1st January. However, he is eligible to play in the Stags' New Year's Day clash at BSBP promotion rivals York City.

Roberts began his career at Crewe Alexandra, where he made over 120 appearances, before making moves to Yeovil, Rotherham and Port Vale.

Cox told http://www.mansfieldtown.net: “I have kept an eye on Gary for some time, but never thought we would be able to bring a player of his quality to this level of football. Technically, he is a very gifted footballer

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

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=41174&season_id=139

Gary Roberts
Midfielder Port Vale
Age 24 (Born 02 Feb, 1987)
Height 5ft 6in (1.68m)
Weight 10st 3lb (64.85kg)
Place of birth Chester
Nationality England
Date Signed 01 Aug, 2010
Fee Signed
CareerCLUB FROM TO FEE LEAGUE FA CUP LGE CUP OTHER
APPS GLS APPS GLS APPS GLS APPS GLS
Port Vale 01 Aug, 10 Signed 39 (7) 6 6 (0) 0 3 (0) 1 1 (2) 0
Rotherham 18 Nov, 09 01 Aug, 10 Signed 11 (2) 3 2 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0
Yeovil 22 Aug, 08 01 Sep, 09 Signed 27 (3) 2 2 (0) 0 1 (0) 0 1 (0) 0
Crewe 01 Jul, 04 31 May, 08 Trainee 108 (10) 11 4 (0) 0 2 (0) 0 5 (0) 0
Totals £0 185 (22) 22 14 (0) 0 6 (0) 1 7 (2) 0
Goals per Game 0.10 0 n/a 0

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

EARLIER STORIES:

Roberts Has Contract Terminated
port-vale.co.uk, Fri 30 Dec 2011

Port Vale Football Club has terminated the contract of Gary Roberts with immediate effect.

http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~2561427,00.html

The move follows an investigation by the club into a serious breach of club discipline by Roberts, who turned up unfit for training on Wednesday morning.

Said manager Micky Adams: "Clearly, this is the second serious incident within a few months and this behaviour is not acceptable and cannot continue.

"Although Gary has talent on a football pitch, we have given him numerous second chances off it in addition to offering him help with his personal issues.

"Footballers are role models and their responsibilities extend far beyond the pitch. Therefore, we have been given no other option but to terminate his contract immediately."

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

Roberts seems set for Vale exit over discipline breach
The Sentinel, Friday, December 30, 2011

GARY Roberts's Port Vale career is over following his latest serious breach of club discipline, The Sentinel understands.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Port-Vale-Roberts-set-Vale-exit-discipline-breach/story-14279348-detail/story.html

The troubled 24-year-old midfielder has been suspended until further notice after being deemed to be in an unfit state to train on Wednesday.

Now it appears Roberts has finally snapped the patience of boss Micky Adams just three months after he was suspended and transfer-listed for a similar indiscretion.

Adams declined to reveal Roberts's fate, but it is understood he is paving the way for the midfielder to leave the club with his contract due to expire in the summer.

It is also believed that Blue Square Bet Premier Mansfield could be ready to offer the player an escape route.

"There's no investigation, it's just a matter of waiting until we can do things correctly," said Adams.

"I can't say a great deal yet. But I can say Gary has let himself and everybody else at the football club down.

"Whether we see him again will be another matter, but I need to go through all the legal processes first.

"I need to discuss it with the likes of the PFA and certainly from a club perspective.

"Unfortunately, Gary's got demons. They surface from time-to-time and if you swallow it and let him get away with things, which I've done at times, then it's not fair on the rest of the group."

Roberts, who has battled alcohol addiction in the past, has scored eight goals in 58 appearances since joining Vale in 2010. Now his career has reached a new low after breaches of club discipline also contributed to exits from Crewe, Yeovil and Rotherham.

It is understood Vale rejected an approach from Mansfield for Roberts before the last transfer window shut at the end of August.

And Adams added: "Gary's been tapped up by a club in the conference and they have been after him for a while.

"When he's not featured much in games recently I think he's forced the issue.

"He's got what he wanted really, but there's a way of doing it. I think I'm quite amiable and I would have happily told him he could go with my blessing.

"But when you come into a training ground in a state, and he was in state, he's testing me and the courage of my convictions while the rest of the players are looking at me.

"It was a bridge too far I'm afraid."

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

Roberts Released From The Vale
crewe.vitalfootball.co.uk

Former Alex player Gary Roberts has signed for Mansfield Town after having his contract at Port Vale terminated.

Read more: http://www.crewe.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=267221#ixzz1i2ljDCM4

The troubled midfielder was once again the subject of disciplinary problems at Vale Park and this time it was the final straw for Micky Adams.

Despite being tipped as one of the clubs successful academy products, Roberts left the Alex under a cloud back in 2008 after a series of problems under Steve Holland saw Roberts go AWOL. The former England U-19 international has since played for and been released from Yeovil, Rotherham and Port Vale, all for disciplinary reasons.

In July 2010 Roberts admitted his problems with alcohol and gambling addiction having attended the Sporting Chance Clinic. However, despite numerous chances under numerous clubs it seems like the 24 year old cannot stay on the straight and narrow.

Having been disciplined by Vale boss Micky Adams back in October, Port Vale confirmed yesterday that Roberts was once again under investigation, with the Valiants confirming his departure from the club this afternoon.

His departure from Vale however was quickly followed with confirmation from Blue Square Premier club Mansfield Town that Roberts had signed a 18 month contract with the club

Stags boss Paul Cox stated: 'I have kept an eye on Gary for some time, but never thought we would be able to bring a player of his quality to this level of football.'

We give it till August....

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

Port Vale terminate contract of midfielder Gary Roberts
Friday, 30 December 2011

Roberts scored five goals in the first nine games of the season for Vale Gary Roberts has had his contract terminated by Port Vale following a second breach of club discipline in the space of three months.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16352421.stm

The 24-year-old midfielder was suspended for two weeks by the League Two club in September after failing to report for a training session.

The former Crewe trainee then reported unfit for duty on Wednesday.

"This behaviour is unacceptable and cannot continue," manager Micky Adams told the official website.

We have been given no other option but to terminate his contract immediately
Micky Adams "Although Gary has talent on a football pitch, we have given him numerous second chances off it, in addition to offering him help with his personal issues.

"Footballers are role models and their responsibilities extend far beyond the pitch.

"Therefore, we have been given no other option but to terminate his contract immediately."

Roberts, who has suffered from gambling and drinking problems, left each of his three previous clubs, Crewe, Yeovil and Rotherham, after discipline breaches.

He started the season in excellent form, scoring five goals in his first nine appearances.

However, he did not report for training the day after a 3-2 home defeat by Shrewsbury on 17 September and arrived unfit for duty the following day.

Roberts was placed on the transfer list by manager Micky Adams, but was able to force his way back into the first-team squad, although he has been limited to two starts in the FA Cup and two substitute appearances in League Two since completing his ban.

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

 

Latest | December 2011