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Archived News from August 2013

NEW STRIKER TO SIGN BEFORE SATURDAY
5th August 2013 0:45


New striker to sign before Saturday
mansfieldtown.net 1st August 2013

Manager Paul Cox will definitely add at least one new centre-forward to his squad, before our League Two season-opener at Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/new-striker-to-sign-before-saturday-959480.aspx?#CtPaP6UA1kFfQbjO.99

Cox has made enquiries about a number of potential new signings in recent weeks, since last season’s top scorer Matt Green moved to Birmingham City.

With just two days to go until we make our return to the Football League, our boss has revealed that he has held positive discussions with a striker.

Speaking at his weekly press meeting, Cox said: “I think we’ll definitely have one new player in by Saturday, and there could be a second one as well.

“Until the paperwork has been signed and forwarded to the relevant parties, that’s all I can say at the moment as other clubs are interested in this player.”

He continued: "I prefer to have a look around and find someone who is hungry, keen to make an impression and has the potential to make a living in the game.

“I don’t know what Matt Green’s goal-scoring record was before he came here, but when he left us, he’d scored over 50 goals in two seasons.

“The boys we are looking at will be within our wage structure and I’m not going to break the bank for somebody just because they have played a certain amount of matches.

“I want a hungry player with potential, who wants to better themselves, and better this club.”

The full interview with Paul Cox is available on StagsPlayer later this afternoon. To subscribe, click here.

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McCombe relishing new campaign
mansfieldtown.net 1st August 2013

Defender John McCombe is relishing the start of the League Two campaign, following a ‘tough’ pre-season.

John McCombe & Louis Briscoe are speaking at this morning's press meeting. For more, log in to Stags Player later today

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/mccombe-relishing-new-campaign-959915.aspx?#PeljxtrwBbrT2JMl.99

The 28-year-old, who was a promotion winner with Port Vale last term, could make his competitive debut for us in our season-opener at Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

“It’s been a tough pre-season,” admitted McCombe.

“We’ve done a lot of running and had some tough games, but there has been a progression in the last few weeks, and I’m looking forward to the new season.

“I think we’ve got a good squad of players, a good team-spirit and high fitness levels, so we’re hoping to put a marker down on Saturday and make an impression.”

The Iron, whom we face this weekend, have signed numerous new players this summer, as they look to make an instant return to League One following relegation last term.

Those to have arrived at Glanford Park include Chris Iwelumo, Sam Winnall and Connor Jennings, whilst Matt Sparrow has also returned to the club.

McCombe added: “They [Scunthorpe] have signed some good players, who have experience at a higher level and even in the Premier League, so it’ll be a tough match.

“But we’ll focus on what we are doing in the dressing room and out on the pitch, and continue that throughout the season.”

Full interview with John McCombe and team-mate Louis Briscoe will be available on StagsPlayer later today. To subscribe, click here.

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Striker set to sign as underdogs Mansfield Town prepare for League return at Scunthorpe
chad.co.uk 01 August 2013

Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox expects to get a new striker to sign on the dotted line today or tomorrow - and has called on players and fans to embrace life in the Football League and not fear it.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/striker-set-to-sign-as-underdogs-mansfield-town-prepare-for-league-return-at-scunthorpe-1-5912832?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Cox is also happy for his side to be underdogs and tipped for an immediate relegation from certain quarters as the players and 1,400 fans head for the opener at Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

The manager has worked tirelessly in recent weeks to find a new front man and this morning said: “I am 100 per cent certain there will be be one in the squad for Saturday, and I’d like to think maybe two. They may be coming in a bit late in the day to start them.

“That’s all I can say at the minute until the paperwork is signed and forwarded. You have to be very very careful as there are a lot of other clubs involved.

“There may also be one or two moving on to pastures new.

“After Matt Green some people seem to be waiting for a marquee signing. But I don’t really know what one is. We are Mansfield Town and can’t realistically afford one.

“The thing to do is to look around for players like Matt Green who are hungry and want to put themselves on the map.”

With pre-season finally over, Cox now can’t wait for his first game in the League.

He said: “It’s the same every season for players, managers and supporters, everyone gets this tingle in their belly and just want to get the first game out of the way. It’s a mixture of emotions, but all positive.

“Everyone is looking forward to the Football League. It is an experience I personally want to embrace and hope to remember for all the right reasons.

“We are underdogs. You can’t get away from the fact. I don’t think many people give us a chance - but that’s football. I can’t change people’s opinions.

“I am not really too concerned if people think we are promotion contenders or relegation fodder. We now need to prove to ourselves that we are capable and hungry for more success.

“This has to be a learning curve. We are coming up from a non-League environment and we have to look what we are up against and adjust accordingly. But, as far as I am concerned, it is a simplistic game. All you’ve go to do is put the ball in the goal more than the other team and, if you do that, you will win more than you lose.

“But I don’t want to make excuses about us going up and be fearful. We have 46 League games plus cup games and we will try to win as many as we can.”

He added: “Our job is to try to win football matches and these boys have hunger and desire. It is the first taste of the League for some of them and I want then to go and grab it.

“You can talk about League football and put anxiety and doubt in people’s minds. It is still a football match and the best environment in the world in which to work - being paid to play football.

“We have kept the nucleus of the squad and the quality of the Conference last season was excellent.

“I know we will have some bad times. But, it’s how you come out of those sticky patches and come through the downs.

“We want to prove a few people wrong. I know a few people have got us down for being down there.”

However, he warned: “We mustn’t run before we can walk. When I came here I gave myself a three-year plan to get out of the Conference. But we made the play-offs in the first year and then won the league in the second year.

“We mustn’t get beyond ourselves too quickly. This is a new chapter for the club and we must make sure the foundations are there and that we are all moving in the right direction. This will be a tough year.

“I hope our supporters stick by us. You look at the number of season tickets we have sold and the number of seats we’ve sold at Scunthorpe and you see we are heading in the right direction and see the tremendous potential of this club.

“No one gives us a hope in hell - but you never know!

“If we all stick together as a football club we can be a potent force. It’s when the bickering and we start getting on each other backs that it divides.”

The first game of the campaign on Saturday pits Mansfield away to a very experienced Scunthorpe, who are looking to bounce back to League One at the first attempt after their relegation in May.

“Scunthorpe have a very good manager, very experienced, and some very good players,” said Cox.

“It will be a very tough game - but there are another 45 tough ones after it in this division.

“It’s well documented our starts here have been very poor and that’s something we need to rectify as a football club.

“I don’t want us to be in awe of anyone in this division. In some of our pre-season games, especially in the first half, we have sat off teams and admired them. I don’t think we are very good when we are in that mood.”

Martin Riley is nursing a dead leg and one or two other players have bumps and bruises. But Cox expects to have a full squad to choose from.

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Make your mark on League Two - Stags’ new boy John McCombe challenges team mates
chad.co.uk 01 August 2013

Stags new boy John McCombe has challenged his new club to make their mark on League Two in Saturday’s opener at Scunthorpe United.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/make-your-mark-on-league-two-stags-new-boy-john-mccombe-challenges-team-mates-1-5914228

The former Port Vale star (28) will be hoping to make his Mansfield Town debut after his summer move and said: “Come Saturday we will try to put a marker down and show League Two what we can do.

“I know League Two and anyone can beat anyone on the day. There are a lot of physical teams and not many play good football. It will be a long season and we are looking forward to it.

“I have played a number of times in the League as have quite a few of our squad which can only help the others in it for the first time.

“We have got a good squad. We have a good team spirit and a good base fitness.”

McCombe knows the standards will be high and picked out three he felt would challenge for promotion

“Portsmouth are a big club, Fleetwood have spent money and have a good squad, and our local rivals, Chesterfield, also have a good manager and good players and will be up there,” he said.

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Lack of expectation will help us this season, says Mansfield Town winger Briscoe
chad.co.uk 02 August 2013

Louis Briscoe reckons the lack of expectation on Mansfield Town’s shoulders will help them on their return to the Football League this season.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/lack-of-expectation-will-help-us-this-season-says-mansfield-town-winger-briscoe-1-5914253

Briscoe (25), who will be hoping to make the team for tomorrow’s opener at Scunthorpe United, said: “It’s more about anticipation than expectation this seasons. The fans are happy to be in the Football League.

“It is a good start at Scunthorpe and it will be a test for us.

“As a team, the pressure is off for play-offs, though I do think we have a good enough squad to get there.

“In the Conference everyone was looking at us winning the league or getting into play-offs, which we did for the last two seasons. No one expects that now, the pressure is off and that’s not a bad thing. No one expects us to go and win it.

“We can concentrate on our own performances and get as many points on the board as we can early doors.”

He added: “Pre-season was very difficult, but now we know we have that in the bank.

“We have the nucleus of the squad from last year, too. We had a big turnover last summer but three or four months in we went back to what had done us well the year before. We have one or two good additions this year and everyone has gelled well and are raring to go.”

Briscoe played four League games for Port Vale before ending up moving around the non-League. But now he is back and hopeful he can make his mark second time around.

“I was nice to get a goal at Gainsborough on Tuesday as I have had a few niggles and not had that many minutes,” he said. “I hope to be in and around the squad on Saturday. It’s nice to have a couple of extra spaces on the bench in the League.”

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Latest | August 2013