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Archived News from May 2013

PATIENCE IS THE KEY - COX + DYER INTERVIEW
31st May 2013 10:08


Patience is key says Cox
mansfieldtown.net
21st May 2013 13:48

Paul Cox will not make any rash decisions on potential new signings, but is close to adding new players to his squad, he said today.

Speaking at this afternoon's press meeting, the manager said that 'patience is key' as he looks to assemble a new squad ahead of the new season, and added that lessons have been learnt from this time last year when a large squad was compiled.

video interview: Jason Harrison (Mansfield 103.2) is asking the questions.
Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/patience-is-key-says-cox-830573.aspx#VC9RvBDdzEO7Orc1.99

Cox told the local press: "I've lost track of the number of meetings I've had with players and agents. We've highlighted a number of players, but patience has to be key. We have to make sure we bring in the right players with the right mindset.

"I jumped in two-footed last season and we signed a whole multitude of players very quickly. The difference this year is that [players on] Football League contracts finish at the end of June. There'll be a lot of people playing poker, wanting to get the best deal possible. There'll be a lot of players out there who'll have to cut their cloth accordingly."

The manager is set to have fresh discussions with out-of-contract Matt Green, as soon as the striker returns from his holiday in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Lee Beevers, John Dempster, Ross Dyer, Ben Hutchinson, Anthony Howell, Alan Marriott, Lindon Meikle, Matt Rhead, Lee Stevenson, Ritchie Sutton and Ryan Tafazolli are set to sign new contracts, with Dyer, Hutchinson, Rhead, Stevenson and Sutton expected to be tied up by the end of today

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Six players pen Football League deals
mansfieldtown.net
21st May 2013 16:43

Six players from last season have today signed new deals ahead of our first campaign back in the Football League.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/six-players-pen-football-league-deals-830779.aspx#tmEoFpvAOter83EX.99

Ross Dyer, Ritchie Sutton, Ben Hutchinson, Matt Rhead (pictured), Lee Stevenson and Lindon Meikle all put pen to paper this afternoon after boss Paul Cox implemented a second year option in their contracts from last season.

Lee Beevers, John Dempster, Anthony Howell, Alan Marriott and Ryan Tafazolli will follow suit over the forthcoming days

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Beevers & Howell sign League deals
mansfieldtown.net 24th May 2013
We can announce that both Lee Beevers and Anthony Howell have put pen-to-paper on new Football League deals, after manager Paul Cox activated second year options in their contracts.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/beevers-howell-sign-league-deals-834958.aspx#0KPqHcQwTJ7e5rHw.99

Defender Beevers was a warrior in our defence last term as he overcame shoulder, elbow, and facial injuries at different stages during the season, to make 34 league appearances.

Meanwhile, Howell proved to be a figure of consistency in our midfield, and produced several accomplished performances as we won the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Shortly after penning a new contract, Beevers said: “I’m delighted to have got everything sorted. [League Two] will be a tough challenge, but I’m raring to go.

“In previous years teams that have gone up from the Conference have done well in League Two, so I think the standard is pretty much the same.

“We’ve got to go out all guns blazing and not fear anyone.”

Asked about his injury woes last term, the 29-year-old continued: “Towards the end of the season I had a bit of a pain in my knee, which I sustained at Wrexham.

“I had a scan to find out [the extent of the injury]. I thought it was a cartilage problem at first, but I found out it was a micro-fracture, so it’s just a case of having plenty of rest.

“There has been a few other little niggles, but nothing major. [My previous injuries] are all healing well and will get strengthened in time for pre-season.”

Howell, whom we signed from Alfreton Town in 2011, said: “I’m enjoying my time here. I feel as though I’m a ‘fans favourite’ and your confidence grows when you have that support.

“The Liverpool game was a huge confidence boost. I played against Lucas [Leiva], a Brazilian international, and I knew that I wouldn’t come up against a better player for the rest of the season.”

He added: “So we had nothing to fear after that, but I always had a feeling that we would win the league, even in the early stages of the season.”

John Dempster, Alan Marriott and Ryan Tafazolli will follow suit over the forthcoming days

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Dyer pays tribute to Cox
22nd May 2013
Ross Dyer has thanked manager Paul Cox for showing faith in him after the boss activated a clause in the front man's contract, enabling him to stay for next season.

Ross Dyer is speaking to our Head of Media & Communications Mark Stevenson
video at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/dyer-pays-tribute-to-cox-831177.aspx?#EvlukOicRMhTvMyH.99

The ex Forest Green Rovers front man played only 25 minutes of last season's title-winning campaign, after rupturing a cruciate ligament on the opening day against Newport County.

Now fully fit after completing a nine month fitness program, the 25-year-old striker says he will fulfill a lifelong ambition by playing in the Football League next season.

“I spoke to the gaffer regularly throughout the season after knowing that I wouldn’t play much of a part in it," said Ross, speaking to mansfieldtown.net shortly after putting pen to paper on his new Football League deal.

“He’s always backed me from the minute I got injured. I can’t thank the gaffer enough - he has showed a lot of faith in me, which hopefully I can repay double fold next season. The club have put a lot of resources into getting ready and back fit. As a kid, it was one of my biggest ambitions to play in the Football League and I have a lot of people to thank who have helped me get there.

”The club have sorted me out with one of the best surgeon in the country and Simon (Murphy), the physio, has been with me everyday.

“The hunger that I have to go on and achieve things is much bigger than before. I just want to play football again really. It’ll be class."

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Big Ben reflects on last season
mansfieldtown.net 24th May 2013

Striker Ben Hutchinson has praised his team-mates after penning a new deal this week, which will keep him at One Call Stadium next season.

Ben Hutchinson is speaking to Mark Stevenson
video at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/big-ben-reflects-on-last-season-834342.aspx#1bdvG2FID5V73RcD.99

Hutchinson bagged four goals from 10 league appearances last term, as our side sealed a return to the Football League by winning the Blue Square Bet Premier title.

“When I was doing radio commentaries I said well before Christmas that we had a good chance of winning the league, but not many people believed me,” stated the 25-year-old.

“I’m not too sure [why I made that prediction], but I just had a gut-feeling that we were going to do it. Then we started winning… and winning… and winning.

“Teams around us started to drop points, and we were consistently winning matches and when you put three points on the board, nobody can take them away from you.

“Winning breeds confidence in the camp. In the business that we are in, confidence is everything. If you’re confident that you’ll win the next game, then you more than likely will.”

On his contract extension, he added: “It’s always nice to have something in place, so that I can relax over the summer without worrying about what’s going to happen next season.

“It’s going to be a difficult task for us next year with the calibre of teams that are in League Two, but we’re all looking forward to the challenge and gaining experience.

“You always aspire to be better and I’ve set a few little goals already, but as soon as we start pre-season again, I’ll set my proper goals and try to put them into action.”

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League Two challenge excites Sutton
mansfieldtown.net 24th May 2013

Defender Ritchie Sutton believes that we could challenge for promotion from League Two next term, if we can maintain the form that won us the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Ritchie Sutton is speaking to Mark Stevenson
video at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/league-two-challenge-excites-sutton-834454.aspx#T5hww4iKehlYFrIT.99

The 27-year-old was speaking shortly after putting pen-to-paper on a new deal, which will keep him at One Call Stadium for our first campaign back in the Football League.

He said: “When I came to the club, the aim was to get the club back into the Football League. Now we’re there, I’m not going to leave.

“It’s great to be signing again and there were no hesitations [in doing so]. Being back in the Football League is a new challenge and I’m looking forward to it.

“Personally, having played in League Two before, I don’t think there’s a great difference [between that division and the Conference Premier].

“A lot of the teams are quite similar, so if we can carry on our form, we’ve got a good chance of being up there in the top half of League Two.”

Sutton made 11 appearances for Port Vale in League Two during the 2010/11 campaign, in a season which saw The Valiants narrowly miss out on a Play-Off position.

He continued: “I can only comment from when I played at that level, but the main difference was the teams at the top had a bit more quality.

“But a lot of the teams are quite similar and on a level pairing, so it’s whoever is best on the day in most of the games.

“If we can push our fitness levels on, get a settled team with a good team spirit again, we have every chance of doing well next season.

“No matter how old you are, you can always get better in every aspect of the game. You’ve always got to raise the bar, because it’s a total new challenge for us.”

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Big Rheady prepares for next season
mansfieldtown.net 28th May 2013

Burly frontman Matt Rhead says he is already preparing for life in League Two.

Matt Rhead is speaking to our Head of Media & Communications Mark Stevenson
video at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/big-rheady-prepares-for-next-season-836460.aspx#tIbMSiZ4vWxaTove.99

The ex-Corby Town player, who celebrates his 29th birthday this Friday, has been training regularly in the gym since the title-winning season ended in a bid to improve his fitness before the players return for a 'M.O.T day' later next month.

He was speaking after signing a Football League contract with us last week.

"I've been in the gym the past few weeks, just to make sure I'm prepared for when the season starts," said Rhead. "There's nothing worse than turning up for pre-season and you're not fully prepared. I just want to make sure I give it my best shot for next season.

"I do loads of cardio, it's not good, but it gets me out of the house," he quipped

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Latest | May 2013