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Archived News from November 2002

NEW DEFENDER HAS BECOME STAGS PRIORITY
27th November 2002 21:12


BY IAN WILKERSON, Evening Post, 27 November 2002

Mansfield Town manager Stuart Watkiss hopes to bring in a player by the end of the week to help shore up the country's leakiest defence.

The Stags have conceded 49 goals in their 19 league matches so far this season and both Watkiss and his assistant Neil Richardson were on scouting duties last night, watching Premiership reserve teams.

The Stags boss, who is still not talking about his sending-off after the final whistle in Saturday's game against Bristol City, said he has drawn up a shortlist of players he is after.

He said: "I have said in the past that we have been looking for another striker since the departure of Shayne Bradley, but a defender has now become our priority.

"I am also going to another game tonight to look at players on our list, which contains a mixture of youngsters from big clubs and more experienced old heads.

"Ideally, I would like to take someone before the end of the week because we need seven days to clear them to play in the cup game.

"I have been told I can look to bring someone in but, obviously, we have got a budget to play with.

"We all went to matches last night and I am going to another tonight, so we will just have to see who we can get."

At the moment, Stags are facing the prospect of Lee Williamson, Liam Lawrence and Neil Moore all missing the FA Cup trip to Crewe.

Lawrence and Moore were both sent off after Saturday's epic 5-4 defeat and are likely to also miss the home clash with Blackpool on December 14 and the trip to Barnsley the following Saturday.

Williamson, who was sent off for the second time this season, is also expected to miss the game against Steve McMahon's Tangerines.

However, Bobby Hassell, Allen Tankard, Dion Scott and David Jervis were all expected to play in this afternoon's reserve game against Lincoln City.

Colin Little, who has just had his loan from Crewe extended for another month, is also expected to play 45 minutes, with Colin Larkin being given another chance to improve his match sharpness.


 

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