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Archived News from March 2015

THOMAS EXTENDS CONTRACT / FITZ AND SHIRES SIGN PRO
10th March 2015 10:36


Young trio pen long-term deals
mansfieldtown.net, 6th March 2015

Fitzpatrick and Shires sign until end of next season - Thomas pens deal until June 2017 - Adam Murray continues to nurture youth

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/young-trio-pen-long-term-deals-2316035.aspx#gIC6cAF56AK6GfOj.99

Manager Adam Murray has signalled his intentions at developing young players at the club with Joe Fitzpatrick and Corbin Shires both signing professional deals until the end of next season, whilst Jack Thomas has also agreed terms until the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

Thomas, 18, has progressed through our youth system, where he was captain, and featured in our last five matches in Sky Bet League Two - collecting two Man of the Match awards for his efforts.

Fitzpatrick, 17, a highly-gifted technical player, has impressed at youth level throughout this season and recently made his professional debut in our away match at Morecambe.

Shires, 17, who stands at a towering 6ft 4in, has recently spent time on loan at Evo-Stik Division One (South) outfit Carlton Town and was on the score-sheet for the Millers in a recent win at Kidsgrove Athletic.

Speaking about the players individually ahead of Saturday’s game at Cheltenham Town, our boss was full of praise.

On Thomas, he said: “Jack has been excellent since he’s come in and has done exactly what I knew he would do. It’s about us now looking after him and getting the best out of him at the right time.

“The work, physically and technically, will go into him and he’ll improve in that aspect, but the biggest thing will be to keep him focussed.

“I’ve been where Jack is now and probably seen the wrong side of things, as well as the good side, so I’ll manage him in my way and I’ll get the best out of him as I see it. I’ll be strict with him, but at the same time I’ll be fair, and he’ll be a great asset for the football club.”

Regarding Fitzpatrick, our boss continued: “He loves the ball and is technically outstanding. I put him in the same bracket as Chris Clements, potentially.

“We’re now getting into him the other side of the game - the physical side - and what you have to do without the ball. Joe really excites me.”

On Shires, Murray added: “I think he’s got the potential to be a complete centre-half - he’s tall and he’s got the feet of a wizard.

“When you’ve got those two ingredients for a centre-back, it’s brilliant. He can play, he’s not scared of the ball and he can defend well.

“He’s only 'a baby' and he’s a part of the future of this football club. He’s a part of the base that I want to evolve at this club and is one of a number [of players] that I’m really pleased with.”

The deals will be complete, subject to Football League clearance.

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Young Stags trio rewarded with contracts
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Friday 06 March 2015

Mansfield Town today rewarded three of their youth team products with contracts.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/young-stags-trio-rewarded-with-contracts-1-7143858?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Midfielder Jack Thomas (18), who has been outstanding in the Stags’ first team over the past month, has had his current deal extended beyond this season for another two years.

Fellow midfielder Joe Fitzpatrick (17), who had a taste of first team action in the second half at Morecambe, and 6ft 4ins centre half Corbin Shires (17), yet to make his debut, have both been handed their first professional contracts until the end of next season.

Manager Adam Murray has high hopes for all three and knows that having homegrown players in the side is good for the team and the supporters.

“You look into their eyes and you can see that they care,” he said. “I am not saying experienced players don’t, but the honesty and enthusiasm these youngsters have, put together with talent makes a nice product to have.”

Thomas has hit the ground running and been instrumental in Stags’ recent revival, Murray saying: “Jack has been excellent - not great. That’s too strong a word. But he will be great. He has done exactly what I knew he would do.

“Now, it’s about us looking after him and making sure we get the best of him at the right time.

“The big thing is to keep him focused. We will work with him technically and physically.

“The good thing is I have been through exactly what he is going through and I have seen the wrong side of it. I will be strict with him but fair and he will be a great asset for this football club.2

So does the manage see a young Adam Murray in the making?

“I hope not or he would be trouble,” he smiled. “He’s got more about him than I had about me and he can do both sides of the game.

“I only learned to do the ugly side as I dropped down the leagues which you have to do to survive as a player.”

Thomas has made an impact in more ways then one with four yellow cards in his first five games.

“It’s just enthusiasm at the moment and him wanting to go that extra yard, so I won’t question him for that. He is getting stuck in,” said Murray.

On the other two, he added: “Corbin has the potential to be a complete centre half. He is 9ft 7ins with the feet of a wizard.

“He can play and is nor scared of the ball. But he can defend as well.

“He is only a baby and part of the future of this football club. As soon as the situation dictates, I want to get him in as quickly as I can once the environment is right.

“Joe loves the ball and is technically outstanding. I would put him, potentially, in the same bracket as Chris Clements. He is learning the physical side of the game now and he really excites me.”

Murray added: “Boys like this need the backing and security of support from the fans, even when they are having a bad game.

“We have still got Liam Marsden here too, who people have probably forgotten about but is part of my plans. He comes into my group of babies and will get his chance again.”

The deals will be completed subject to Football League clearance.

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twitter
Jack Thomas @JackThomas06
Delighted to of signed a new 2 year contract with @mansfieldtownfc (symbols: love football)

Joe Fitzpatrick @JoeFitzpatrickx
Happy to have signed my first professional contract (symbols: love football)

Corbs @big_man_corbs
Very proud today, sign my pro contract for the stags! @mansfieldtownfc
Over the moon right now

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Latest | March 2015