Archived News from February 2017
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STAGS SIGN ALEX MACDONALD
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League Two promotion-winner signs for Stags mansfieldtown.net, 31st January 2017 Manager Steve Evans has made his first Deadline Day signing with the acquisition of Oxford United winger Alex MacDonald, we are delighted to announce. The 26-year-old has played 30 times for the U’s this season and becomes Stags’ seventh signing of the January transfer window. The Warrington-born winger progressed through the youth ranks at Lancashire club Burnley before turning professional with the Clarets in 2008. He made 17 appearances for Burnley over a five-year period as he joined a number of clubs on loan during that same time. MacDonald won eight caps for the Scotland under 19 side during the 2008/09 season and scored a fantastic tally of seven goals, including a brace against France when he was handed the captain’s armband. He also went on to win five caps for the under 21s, scoring one goal. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/league-two-promotion-winner-signs-for-stags-3546930.aspx#jrVxRR4BvUSqc3R9.99 After spending the first half of the 2009/10 season on loan at Scottish side Falkirk, he returned to Turf Moor. He didn’t feature under new manager Brian Laws in the following season, so again moved north of the border to join Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he scored his first professional goal in a 3-0 win over Motherwell. The former Scotland under 21 international then had two successful loan spells with Plymouth Argyle where he scored six goals in 35 appearances across the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. Despite expressing a desire to move to the Pilgrims on a permanent basis, MacDonald was sent back out on loan to Burton Albion, with whom he signed permanently after spending the second half of the 2012/13 season with them. The winger made over 60 appearances in an 18-month spell at the Pirelli Stadium, including 25 appearances in the Brewers' League Two winning-season, before joining Oxford United on a two-and-a-half year deal in February 2015. MacDonald made 40 appearances and scored five goals as the U’s won promotion from League Two in the 2015/16 season. The former Burnley man has made 30 appearances in all competitions so far this season as the U’s currently occupy 14th position in Sky Bet League One. Manager Steve Evans said: “A big part of the game is not only scoring goals but [also] opening the door for people to score goals and Alex MacDonald has done that very successfully at Burton Albion and has been deployed to do that at Oxford United. “First and foremost, I never call anyone else’s business because it’s never my job but I was really surprised to be made aware that it was potentially ‘a goer’ that we could get Alex out of Oxford. “I must thank Michael Appleton [Oxford’s manager] and the people at Oxford for being so professional in the way they have dealt with it. “I had a couple of meetings with Alex when he had multiple choices of where he was going to apply his future, if indeed he took the option to leave Oxford United. On my first meeting I briefed the chairman that I wasn’t sure what Alex’s thoughts were but I tried to put across to him [Alex] on what we’re trying to achieve at the One Call Stadium. “After further meetings and telephone calls if I’m being honest, tongue-in-cheek, I ‘wore him down’. “He wanted to become a part of it here. He watched our recent performance and has seen us be very good in spells. He has a wonderful challenge to come and go into the team. “This is a boy who has been very regular for Oxford United this season, including a game that I spent a lot of time watching because I know the opposition very well, when Oxford United went to Rotherham United and beat them in the FA Cup. It has to be said that the boy MacDonald was simply outstanding on the day.” The transfer is subject to EFL confirmation. ------------------- New winger wants to make most of Stags' opportunity mansfieldtown.net, 31st January 2017 by Tathagata Mukherjee Stags’ newest recruit Alex MacDonald believes the move to One Call Stadium will provide him with a great opportunity to further his career. The 26-year-old put pen-to-paper on a deal from Oxford United earlier on today after transferring from the Kassam Stadium. The Burnley academy product says the opportunity to move to a side who are on the rise under boss Steve Evans was one which he couldn’t turn down. “As soon as I had the chance to come down here and work with Steve [Evans], I thought it was an opportunity for me which was great, and it was one that I had spoken about long and hard with my family about, and we are happy to be here,” MacDonald said. “I think [when] you look at where the club’s been since Steve has taken over - there is a good group of players here, I know a few of the lads here already. It was a move that I thought was going one place with the recent upturn in form, and it is always great to be a part of it. “And I am just looking to hopefully add to what I have already got and get the team in the right direction and up the league.” Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/new-winger-wants-to-make-most-of-stags-opportunity-3548144.aspx#R6ql8sPAVlaOKCwi.99 Furthermore, the ex-Scotland under 21 international praised the immediate impact that several of the Stags’ new signings have had in their ascent up the table, and expressed his aim of adding to that with his own prowess as a winger. “Obviously it (the new signings) has all been good, because it is being reflected in the performances and certainly the results. I think when he (Steve Evans) took over, the club was 19th in the league. So the results have certainly come. “Hopefully I can improve the squad, and hopefully that comes off from the results and performance on a Saturday. “I am a winger. I like to give it everything in every game and hopefully add a little bit of quality as well. I am a hard working wideman, and hopefully I can bring another dimension to the game.” Finally, MacDonald is fully aware of the competition among the Stags’ ranks, but is not shy of working hard to nail down a starting spot. “It (joining a club in January) can be tricky at first, but with the games coming in thick and fast - we are straight into a tough game at Barnet away - and the more games you are involved in, the better it is and easier [it is] to settle. “I’d rather join a club in January than join in the summer because it is a long process, with pre-season and stuff. So I’d rather join in January and I am happy that this has gone over the line. “I need to get in the team first. That is my aim, to make an impression and get myself in to the starting XI, sooner rather than later. “The team are on a great run of form at the minute and if I can help in any way, shape or form - straight away from the offing, then it is great.” “You have got to earn your way in, earn the respect of your team-mates and certainly the manager.” Supporters can view Alex MacDonald’s first interview as a Stag on Stags PlayerHD. ------------------ MacDonald happy with surprise move to Mansfield chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 31 January 2017 Winger Alex MacDonald said it was a surprise that Oxford United were prepared to let him go - but he was delighted today to put pen to paper for Mansfield Town. MacDonald helped Oxford to promotion last season and has played 30 games for the League One outfit this season. “It has probably been going on for four or five days now with negotiations with Oxford and I’m just glad now it’s all over,” he said. “I have been playing quite a lot in League One this year and it came as a bit of a surprise to me that I was allowed to move on. “As soon as I had the chance to come down here and work with Steve Evans, I thought it was an opportunity for me which was great. It was one that I had spoken about long and hard with my family about, and we are happy to be here. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/deadline-day-potter-happy-with-surprise-move-to-mansfield-1-8364424 “When you look at where the club’s been since Steve has taken over - there is a good group of players here, I know a few of the lads here already. It was a move that I thought was going one place with the recent upturn in form, and it is always great to be a part of it. “And I am just looking to hopefully add to what I have already got and get the team going in the right direction and up the league.” Evans has brought in eight new players in January, MacDonald followed today by the arrival of Alfie Potter. “Obviously it (the new signings) has all been good, because it is being reflected in the performances and certainly the results,” he said. “I think when he took over, the club was 19th in the league. So the results have certainly come. “Hopefully I can improve the squad, and hopefully that comes off from the results and performance on a Saturday.” Letting Stags fans know what to expect from him, he said: “I am a winger. I like to give everything in every game and hopefully add a little bit of quality as well. “I am a hard working wide man, and hopefully I can bring another dimension to the team.” He added: “It (joining a club in January) can be tricky at times, but with the games coming in thick and fast - we are straight into a tough game on Saturday at Barnet away - and the more games you are involved in, the better it is and easier it is to settle. “I’d rather join a club in January than in the summer because it is a long process, with pre-season and stuff. So I’d rather join in January and I am happy that this has gone over the line. “But I need to get in the team first. That is my aim, to make an impression and get myself in to the starting XI, sooner rather than later. “But the team are on a great run of form at the minute and if I can help in any way, shape or form - straight away from the offing, then it is great.” “You can’t expect to walk into a team. You have got to earn your way in, earn the respect of your team-mates and certainly the manager.” --------------------- Michael Appleton: Oxford United could not guarantee Alex MacDonald regular football, paving way for deadline day exit by David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter @oxfordmailoufc ALEX MacDonald has left by Oxford United mutual consent on deadline day and has signed for Mansfield Town. The winger, who was out of contract this summer, joined the U’s on deadline day two years ago for an undisclosed fee from Burton Albion. MacDonald has started 23 of United’s 39 games this season, but has been allowed to leave, just as striker Ryan Taylor did yesterday. But head coach Michael Appleton felt he could not guarantee regular football, so allowed him to leave if another club could be found. He told the club's official website: “Alex has done great for us and been a big part of everything we have achieved over the last couple of years. "He is a positive character around the place and I know the fans will be sad to see him leave. “However, sentiment can’t come into decisions like this and as with Ryan Taylor, we sat down with Alex and agreed that provided he could find a new club and the deal worked for all parties then he could leave. "He deserves to play regular first team football, which we couldn’t guarantee here. “He leaves with our thanks and best wishes and I’m sure will have a lot of great memories of his time at Oxford United.” Read more at http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/15059625.Michael_Appleton__Oxford_United_could_not_guarantee_Alex_MacDonald_regular_football__paving_way_for_deadline_day_exit/ MacDonald made 83 starts, scoring 12 goals. After helping steady United in his first few months, he made 52 appearances last season, where he was a key player in Appleton’s promotion-winning side. He joins up with former U's teammate Patrick Hoban at Field Mill, with the Stags two points outside the play-off places. MacDonald's departure is expected to make room for a signing today, before the 11pm transfer window deadline. For all the latest news on deadline day, see our live blog. ------------------- George William Taft @t99fty What a guy @alexmacca11 Brian Jensen @jensen_com @mansfieldtownfc @alexmacca11 Yes wee man #bromance --------------- |
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