Archived News from May 2017
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RETAINED LIST: GREEN AND COLLINS RELEASED
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Stags announce retained list
mansfieldtown.net, 10th May 2017 Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans has today announced his players’ retained and released list in preparation for season 2017-18. Speaking to http://www.mansfieldtown.net the gaffer said: “Following a thorough process I have met with each of my players and told each of them face-to-face of my decision in relation to their respective contracts. “On Monday evening I also met with my chairman and chief executive to discuss my rationale for each decision. It was fair to say that we agreed on the way forward and the decisions have now been implemented. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/stags-announce-retained-list-3712457.aspx#j2sjIwRH5gslgoeF.99 PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT AND RETAINED FOR SEASON 2017-18 AND/OR BEYOND: Rhys Bennett Mal Benning Joel Byrom CJ Hamilton Alex MacDonald Krystian Pearce Alfie Potter Danny Rose George Taft Jack Thomas PLAYERS RELEASED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT: Yoann Arquin James Baxendale Lee Collins Matt Green Ashley Hemmings Kevan Hurst Pat Hoban Brian Jensen Jamie McGuire Scott Shearer Corbin Shires The gaffer has further confirmed that midfielder Jamie McGuire is considering an offer to join the under 21 coaching staff. At this stage, no timescale for a decision has been announced, but it is envisaged that the offer will be accepted. In summary, the manager said: “I would, on behalf of everyone, like to wish all the released players every success at their new clubs and hope all the players enjoy a pleasant summer. “No decision was easy and was made simply for the benefit of the team, as it should always be. The manager added: “Mike Whitlow (U21s’ head coach) and John Dempster (academy manager) will later this week announce the plans for the youngsters at under 21 and academy level.” "Furthermore, our pre-season schedule has been completed and will be announced in the next few days." ------------------- facebook, Wednesday 10 May 2017 Matt Green Firstly I'd like to say thank you to everyone at Mansfield Town Football Club and its Fantastic supporters. It's an emotional day? but it's time for me to move forward as a player and look on to the next chapter and challenge in my life with a new club. I am hungrier than I have ever been to succeed in my career, I am determined to produce the football I have ever given and work harder than ever, it just wont be at MTFC. Great bunch of lads to have played and trained with at MTFC, an incredibly well run club and I wish everyone the greatest success in their future. Greeny Thursday 11 May 2017 Very humbled and thankful for all the lovely messages! John Radford & Carolyn Radford have looked after me and always kept to their word. I really have no doubt that MTFC will gain promotion and Steve Evans deserves all the backing from the fans. Again thank you for all your support over the years. Now time to enjoy the summer and look forward to a bright future. Greeny & Family ----------------------------------- Tough decision to release goal ace Green chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, (from Paul Raynor press conference 12th May 2017) Paul Raynor admitted it had been a tough decision to release Mansfield Town legend Matt Green this week. Green went, despite being top scorer, and the Stags’ assistant manager said: “Of course it was a difficult decision. “He’s our top goalscorer this season and he has been a fantastic servant for the football club. “I am sure Matt will get a move and go on to do well at his new club. These decisions are tough ones and for the benefit of the football club moving forward.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/tough-decision-to-release-goal-ace-green-1-8542155 Stags released 11 players this week and Raynor said some decisions were less of a shock than others. “The ones where the guys have not really featured are the easy ones,” he said. “If they are not playing week in week out, they know the chances of them staying are pretty unlikely. “Even if we offered them something they’d probably want to go to pastures new and play football every week. These guys are professional footballers. They should, and do, want to play every week and we can’t always offer them that opportunity. “Some of them were resigned to the outcomes of the meetings.” He added: “It’s tough when you get to know these guys as people, not just players. We don’t see them as commodities. “We get on well with the whole squad and they have given us absolutely everything, but you have to make tough decisions. It is a professional environment.” -------------------- Jack Thomas urged to fulfil promise after returning to Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, (from Paul Raynor press conference 12th May 2017) Mansfield Town youngster Jack Thomas has been told to fulfil his potential after returning from a loan spell at National League Barrow. The 20-year-old made an immediate impact when he initially came into the first team aged 17 only to see that initial rich promise ebb away. But he was on the club’s retained list this week and assistant manager Paul Raynor said: “Jack still had another year on his contract anyway, so he was in the door “We sent him out on loan at Barrow to get some games in because we felt he wasn’t going to play week in week out. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/jack-thomas-urged-to-fulfil-promise-after-returning-to-mansfield-town-1-8542275 “But he showed us enough in the games and in training to see there is something there. “We’ve had a long chat with Jack in terms of how he needs to come back. That focus has really got to be there. “He need to be an active part of our first team squad before the transfer window closes. “We see potential but we now need to see that come to fruition in the early part of the season and in pre-season.” --------- LOMAS ON STAGS: No big surprises as Evans wields the axe chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Wednesday 10 May 2017 Knowing his hunger to win promotion next season, few fans will have surprised by any of the players released by manager Steve Evans today. There is no doubt there are some good players on there. But they have proved not good enough this season and Evans wants to bring in players from a higher level that have shown they can play very well on a more consistent basis. From a sentimental viewpoint, most tears shed are likely to be for club legend Matt Green, whose 85 goals for the club have put him sixth in the Stags’ all-time top scorers. It was Green’s strikes in the last two games in the Conference that clinched the title and promotion and, for those fans, will be forever grateful. But his career was badly rocked by his injury after an ill-fated move to Birmingham City and his goals have been less frequent since his return, despite top-scoring both years with 16 and 13. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/lomas-on-stags-no-big-surprises-as-evans-wields-the-axe-1-8536413 It was no huge shock to see Green released as Evans had been hinting at it for three weeks. Skipper Lee Collins is also going and, while a useful utility player, fell between several stools. He was fifth choice in terms of a centre half, which he was brought in as, and not a first choice for either full back positions. Adam Murray began developing him as a defensive midfielder player, which Evans also tried, and he did have some excellent games there. But Evans clearly feels he can get better elsewhere. Keepers Scott Shearer and Brian Jensen have enjoyed long and distinguished careers and were probably the best goalie pairing the club has ever had at one time. But Shearer had come under some fire for errors from fans and was clearly suffering injury issues by the end of the campaign while Jensen, who is 42 next month, is obviously in the twilight of his playing days. With Jake Kean in on loan since January, the club had one senior keeper too many and it remains to be seen if Evans wants Kean again or looks elsewhere for two accomplished stoppers. Midfielders James Baxendale, Ashley Hemmings, and Kevan Hurst all showed flashes of their undoubted talents but not often enough to win a regular place or a new deal and have gone too. But terrace hero Jamie McGuire is a sad loss as he was the one player in the club who wore his heart on his sleeve every time he was called upon and got the stands going with his whole-hearted challenges. However, his lack of regular games showed where he stood in Evans’ books and it would be great to see him take up the offer of role on the coaching staff from where his infectious enthusiasm would be a real boon to the club. Up front Yoann Arquin didn’t show enough while Pat Hoban certainly had heart and strength and could hold up a ball up well at times, but again didn’t do enough for Evans, still scoring six times from 14 starts. Completing a full ‘team’ of 11 players released, young centre half Corbin Shires had the height and promise but illness and injury just as he had begun to find himself on the fringes of the first team did for him and he can count himself unlucky. Now begins the hard work of replacing these players with ones of a higher standard and I for one can’t wait to see who they are and what they can do. ------------------- |
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