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Archived News from May 2012

COX,MICKY MOORE, GEOHAGHON AND GARY MILLS REACTION
11th May 2012 14:27


post match video with Paul Cox --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2762983,00.html

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audio interview with Paul Cox
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17890870
Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"There's a lot of heartache in the dressing room. I personally feel we've let a lot of people down today.
"A lot of people have come out and supported us and the chances, balls that have bounced in the box, we just couldn't convert into a goal.
"Looking at the game as a whole, it was always probably going to be one goal that won the game.
"We've got to come back stronger now."

continued - transcribed by Martin Shaw
I thought it had penalties written all over it. It's fine margins in the play-offs. I just wanted us to be a bit braver in front of goal.
York have won it and good luck to them in the final.
You need a bit of belief in both boxes. Sometimes you just need someone to tap one in, and we didn't have that.
I thought one goal was going to win the game.
You always miss a 30 goal a season striker. When you look back at it, we asked the referee to watch the video and to make an honest decision on it, and it looks to me as though he's not made an honest decision. Because everyone realised that Greeny didn't touch the ball. Now he could have rescinded that. He could have put his hand up and said he made a mistake but he hasn't and that's the way that football is at the minute.
I'm probably talking with my heart at the minute but the little things add up. Obviously we've lost a 30 goal a season striker.
We switched off, the goal was a lack of concentration and we got made to pay.

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York City boss Gary Mills told BBC Radio York:
"They've had a great run and all credit to them but, when you come into these play-off situations, it's about the two games.
"We got done with the throw for the goal at home and we had to concentrate a lot.
"But we got a clean sheet and we defended for our lives.
"It's been an unbelievable few days and we've had an unbelievable season, but what a way to finish, two Wembley trips."


Paul Cox not worried by Mansfield Town contract delay
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18006567

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox says he is not concerned that he is yet to sign a new deal with the club.

The 40-year-old, who guided the Stags to the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs in his first season in charge, is out of contract next month.

And although he agreed a two-year deal last month, nothing has been finalised.

"I haven't signed it yet but I trust the chairman and the chairman trusts me. We have a good relationship," Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham.

The former Eastwood Town manager, was took over as Stags boss last summer, had previously been linked with the vacant manager's job at Burton Albion.

"I want to make sure this football club is going forward. There are a lot of things we need to improve on," he added.

"I have shaken hands with the chairman and we will sit down when we have a spare hour or two and see what we need to be successful next season."

Mansfield face another Blue Square Bet Premier campaign next season after their hopes of returning to the Football League defeat ended with a 2-1 aggregate defeat by York in the play-off semi-finals.

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Stags boss Cox in tears as Mansfield miss out in play-offs
chad.co.uk

MANSFIELD Town manager Paul Cox was in tears as he met the press after today's 1-0 BSBP play-off semi-final second leg defeat by York City at the One Call Stadium.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-boss-cox-in-tears-as-mansfield-miss-out-in-play-offs-1-4524227

Stags' promotion hopes were sunk by a Matty Blair goal in the second half of extra-time as a scoreless game seemed to be set for penalties and, hugging his young daughter after the game, Cox said: “I've had a good cry.

“That's just me. I wear my heart on my sleeve and people get what they see.

“I feel gutted for the lads and gutted for the football club. Part of me feels we've let everyone down.

“We've got to dust ourselves down now and go again.

“A lot of people came out and supported us today and I desperately wanted to win the game for them. I feel I've let a lot of people down.

“But there are a lot of boys in there that need picking up, so I can't sit around feeling sorry for myself.

“It was always going to be fine lines and I said to the lads at half-time, someone is going to be a hero and someone is going to be a villain and we just didn't have enough in the final third in their box.

“Sometimes we picked up some great positions as well as the set pieces we worked on, we just needed someone to go and tap it in, but give credit to York, over the two legs they just had that bit extra.

“In big games like that, and it was a big game, you need someone to be a hero and I think one goal was always going to win it.

“When they scored the one goal I think the lads were running on empty in the end. We tried our best and have given it a massive shot this season, but you know the big thing about this football club is to bounce back even stronger and go even further next season.

“We will be aiming to do that, but tonight there is a lot of heartache in there. I will be honest and say I personally think we've let a few people down.

“I thought the supporters deserved us to have a go at it today. We probably got undone with the goal pushing too many people forward, but we went to try and win it.”

He added: “We have got to look at ourselves and see where things have gone wrong or right this season and put it right for next season.

“The amount of fans who came out and supported the boys today was immense. When I came here there was a bit of a dark cloud hanging over the ground and I think we've blown that away. But foundations are only there if you want to build on them and I definitely want to build on them as I don't like feeling like this.

“I have a fantastic relationship with the chairman and we really want to take this club places. We've come up short this season but in other people's minds we've far outweighed expectation.

“I want the club to go forward. I am very ambitious as a person and I think the chairman is too.

Cox's assistant, Micky Moore, added: “So near and yet so far. Everyone is down from the chairman and the players to the fans.

“There was nothing in it – fine lines. We camped in their half for the last 15 minutes but nothing dropped for us.

“You knew in extra-time one mistake or one bit of magic could win it and we threw the kitchen sink at it.

“It is hard to take at the moment. But once we dust ourselves down and look at it, we have had a fantastic season. The town and supporters have seen these players give everything and they are absolutely heartbroken at then moment.”

Defender Exodus Geohaghon said: “The boys are gutted, They know they gave it their all but unfortunately we've lost in extra-time.

“It was all about our final product today, the finish. We had a lot of half-chances but it's just not happened for us today.”

York now face two Wembley finals in as many weekends with the FA Trophy clash with Newport first.

Delighted boss Gary Mills said: “It's fantastic to get to Wembley twice, though once there, you still have to win them.

“It is a fantastic stage if you win. Now we have to do that twice.

“I think there were maybe a few doubters that we could come here and get a result today after only drawing at home. But I have never doubted my players for a minute.

“We are a tough side to beat. We don't concede many and when we lose it has only been by the odd goal.

“The long throws caused a bit of panic at times but we dealt with it and I thought my keeper was excellent today. He came and took a lot of crosses and was on the front foot.

“I was delighted for Matty Blair to score the winner. I don't think he can believe it.

“He probably didn't have one of his better games today but the energy of the lad to keep getting in there was fantastic.”

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Tearful Cox is left heartbroken as Stags' play-off dream is ended
Nottingham Post

A TEARFUL Paul Cox said he felt he had let people down after his Mansfield Town side were edged out of the play-offs at the One Call Stadium yesterday.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-16021780-detail/story.html

But the Stags boss vowed to bounce back stronger next season and to challenge for promotion into the Football League once again.

Following a 1-1 draw at York in the first leg of their semi-final, the Stags fell to a late goal in extra time yesterday, losing 1-0 and 2-1 on aggregate after the game had ended goalless in 90 minutes.

It was a crushing blow to miss out on a place in the Wembley final, after finishing third in the Blue Square Bet Premier in Cox's first season in charge.

It has been a terrific campaign but an emotional Cox said: "I have had a good cry. I feel gutted for the lads, gutted for the football club and the fans. Part of me feels I let people down.

"The number of supporters who came out was immense. I wanted to win for them and I feel like I have let them down.

"I wear my heart on my sleeve but have boys to pick up so I cannot spend too long feeling sorry for myself.

"We have given it everything this season and it is about bouncing back even stronger and going further next season. But there is a lot of heartache in that dressing room."

Cox has yet to sign his new two-year deal but feels that is a formality as he continues to work with chairman John Radford to take the club forward.

"I said when I came here there was a dark cloud over the place and I think we have blown that away," said Cox.

"Foundations are there but you have to build on them. I am desperate to build on them.

"We have come up short this season but I think we exceeded expectations. I am very ambitious, so is the chairman and we can go forward together."

Mansfield were missing 30-goal top-scorer Matt Green through suspension yesterday and Cox felt his side struggled in the final third.

He said: "There are fine lines and we just did not have enough in the final third. Sometimes we got in some great positions but did not finish it off.

"But give credit to York, over the two legs they have had that little bit extra. We have to look at ourselves, see where things have gone well and gone wrong and put it right next season.

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Cox Eager To Finalise New Deal
mansfield103.co.uk

Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox says Monday's defeat to York in the play-offs has made him even more determined to be a success at the Stags.

http://www.mansfield103.co.uk/sport.php?n=1733

Cox, whose current contract runs out in the summer, has verbally agreed a new deal with chairman John Radford but nothing has yet been signed.

He says he wants to be in charge when the new season begins in August.

He told Mansfield 103.2: "The intention's to sign. I've got a fantastic relationship with John. We really want to take this club places.

"We've come up short this season even if some people think we've far outweighed expectation.

"When I came here, there was a bit of a dark cloud hanging over the ground and I think we've blown that away.

"But, foundations are only there if we want to build on them and I'm desperate to build on them now.

"I want to club to go forward. I'm very ambitious as is the chairman so both of us are going forward together."

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Gary Mills hails York City's 'incredible' twin assault on Wembley glory
By Dave Flett, Sports reporter
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/9693221.Boss_Mills_hails_City___s____incredible_____twin_assault_on_Wembley_glory/

York City players Lanre Oyebanjo, Dan Parslow, Jamal Fyfield, Chris Smith, Jon Challinor, Adriano Moké and Moses Ashikodi celebrate booking a place at Wembley in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final YORK City manager Gary Mills is targeting an “incredible” Wembley double having watched Matty Blair secure his team a place in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final against old rivals Luton.

Blair's extra-time 111th-minute header settled a tense semi-final second leg at Mansfield Town yesterday, earning the Minstermen a 1-0 win on the day and a 2-1 aggregate triumph.

The goal means City will now make two trips to the world-famous national stadium on consecutive weekends.

First up is this Saturday's FA Trophy final against Newport County and then, eight days later, on Sunday, May 20, Mills' team will meet Luton under the arch to decide which club regains its Football League status.

On that mouthwatering prospect, a proud Mills said: “We are going to Wembley twice in a week. That doesn't happen to many football clubs and how good does it feel?

“What a way to end an unbelievable season. It's great for this football club and, now, we need the icing on the cake because to win both finals would be incredible.”

Luton lost 2-1 at Wrexham yesterday but the result was sufficient to take them through 3-2 on aggregate.

The Minstermen, meanwhile, once more relied upon their exemplary away form to complete the job, having been held to a 1-1 draw at Bootham Crescent last Wednesday

On the character his team showed to become the first side to beat Mansfield at Field Mill since November 5, Mills said: “There were people saying that we had missed our chance when we could only draw at our place, but we came up with another away performance where my players have given me everything.

“Mansfield are a very strong side who were full of confidence having been on a great run, which is all credit to them.

“But we are a tough team to beat away from home and don't concede many goals.

“We had to defend for our lives at times and God knows how many long throws we had to deal with but, as I have said throughout the season, if you don't concede, you don't lose.

“I didn't see any nerves from my players on such a big occasion and I learned a lot about them again.”

Blair's header was almost a carbon copy of the 90th-minute goal he scored at Luton to send City through to the FA Trophy final with Jason Walker providing the left-wing cross on this occasion rather than Jamal Fyfield.

City boss Mills added that the goal was another reward for his excellent work ethic, saying: “He frustrates himself sometimes and he probably wasn't having one of his better games. But he has the energy to keep going both offensively and defensively in terms of helping his full-back out and he's ended up getting another late header for us.”

'Keeper Michael Ingham also received plaudits from his manager for keeping a clean sheet in the face of another aerial bombardment from the Stags.

“Their long throws caused a bit of panic at times but my 'keeper was excellent,” Mills said. “He came and took a lot of crosses and was also on his front foot when balls were hit over the top.”

City will now monitor the fitness of defensive pair Chris Doig and Jon Challinor ahead of Saturday's Trophy final with both players limping out of the action at Mansfield.

Mills added: “Chris Doig was feeling his calf again. We knew he wasn't 100 per cent fit but I decided to go with him and it was the right call because he gave me everything.

“He played until he couldn't any longer because he felt that by staying on he might cost us, but that only meant I had to put Dan Parslow in there and Pars has been exceptional for me this season.

“He is 100 per cent York City and competes for everything. He's a credit to himself and the football club.

“Jon Challinor was also feeling his hamstring so it was right to take him off. We will have to see how he is for Saturday. If he can't make that, then we'll look to get him back for the play-off final.”

On-loan Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson, however, will be back from his four-match suspension

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Latest | May 2012