Archived News from May 2017
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EVANS PRESS CONF 23MAY:WE TRIED TO SIGN TOP SCORER
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23 May 2017
twitter Carolyn Radford @CarolynRadford Shame our attempts at getting the leagues top goal scorer has been rebuffed. However, we move on to new targets... Steve Evans: "There are people who we've missed. We made an enquiry for one of the top goalscorers in the league, but they don't want to sell him." "We asked if he was for sale, and if it was yes then Carolyn Radford would have picked the phone up or go down and have a meeting." "We're still looking for a striker or two. We've signed strikers who are destined to score goals. I think Angol [can get] 20+ all day." "Alex MacDonald came in to this club for nothing and he could have gone out for almost £250,000 last week. We don't have to sell." ------------------- Gaffer looking to add finishing touches to squad mansfieldtown.net Stags boss Steve Evans has targeted ‘a maximum of four’ further signings as he adds the final touches to his squad ahead of the 2017/18 season. The gaffer, alongside chairman John Radford and chief executive officer Carolyn Radford, have worked prudently and efficiently in the weeks following the end of the previous season and have acquired 10 summer signings so far. Goalkeeper Conrad Logan was the first to commit his future to the Stags, whilst defenders Zander Diamond, David Mirfin, Hayden White and Johnny Hunt have also signed on a permanent basis. Midfielders Jacob Mellis, Paul Digby and Paul Anderson have penned deals at the club, in addition to frontmen Lee Angol and Jimmy Spencer. And with a group of 19 senior players in place ahead of next season, the boss is now looking to fit together the final pieces of the jigsaw to complete his squad. “We’ve got a couple of players that are within the system and we’re going to see how they come back and how they equip themselves in the new season and pre-season as to whether they’ll go forward with us but we don’t want too many players here," the manager said. “22-23 is the perfect optimum number and we’re a maximum of four, probably two or three, players short of where we need to be. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/gaffer-looking-to-add-finishing-touches-to-squad-3724623.aspx#QOGJpGHhKxdJxmRP.99 “If it’s four, I don’t think the chairman and the chief exec have got too many concerns where we are. If it’s two or three it’ll be the same answer. We’re just trying to add some good players to what we’ve already got in the building, and it’s great.” The former Leeds United manager is aiming to bring in some much-needed competition for shot-stopper Conrad Logan, as the former Rochdale man is the only senior goalkeeper currently at the club. “We’re talking to a couple of options. There’s different options; there’s the older, more experienced guy, there’s the young and hungry guy - well, there’s three options - or there’s the one that’s just direct competition. “At the minute, I’m preferring just direct competition - ‘go on Conrad, get in the team because we’ve signed this boy and he’s good as well’.” The gaffer revealed that an enquiry for ‘one of the leading goalscorers in the league’ was turned down by the player’s club, but the Stags are still in the market for ‘a striker or two’. “Everyone knows that if you’ve got three or four strikers, you really need to be getting between 35 and 45 goals between your strikers to give you a real chance of promotion. “I think Lee Angol’s destined to get 20 goals [next season]. I think he’s got everything. I think he’s probably going to play in a team that does make a number of chances and is dominant. “Danny Rose, people forget he hardly scored a goal before we came in, he finished on 10 goals and if you take away the penalty kicks, he probably finishes as our leading goalscorer. From that point of view, I think he’s got a point to prove and I’m excited to work with Jimmy Spencer. “He’s a top talent, I don’t think there’s many clubs in League One that wouldn’t have him in the door but he’s got points to prove. “There’ll always be a gem of a player who pops up at the end of June. We’ll always be in the market for a gem.” Supporters can login to Stags PlayerHD to view the gaffer’s news conference in full. -------------------- Search goes on for 20 goal a season striker chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town have failed in an audacious attempt to sign one of League Two’s leading goalscorers. But manager Steve Evans said he is in no panic to find an established 20-goals-a-season striker and believes he may already have one or two in the building. “We made an enquiry for one of the leading goalscorers in our league and were told they don’t want to sell him,” he said. “We respect their right to make that decision and we move on. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/search-goes-on-for-20-goal-a-season-striker-1-8560744 “We made an enquiry to ask if they’d be prepared to look at an offer. But it never got to the stage where myself and Carolyn would sit down and discuss what that offer would be. “But, as we’ve proved with Peterborough, when I first spoke to Barry Fry about Lee Angol I think his words were ‘Mansfield’s not going to be buying Angol’! “We are in no rush. If the right players come along then we are going to be in the market place to sign them. “If you do your business early you tend to get the better players. But there will always be a gem of a player that pops up in the last week of June - and we’ll always be in the market for a gem.” Stags fans are desperate to see an established free-scoring striker signed with Danny Rose from last season so far joined by Lee Angol and Jimmy Spencer on the forwards roster. However, Evans said: “We are still looking for a striker or two. “We’ve not missed out on any we’ve been given permission to speak to. But we have already signed one or two that might get goals. “I think Lee Angol is destined to get 20 goals. “Everyone knows that if you’ve got three or four strikers you really need to be getting 35-40 goals between those strikers to give you a real chance of promotion. “I think Angol is 20-plus all day. I think he’s got everything and I think he’s probably going to play in a team that does make a number of chances and is dominant. He continued: “Danny Rose - people forget he hardly scored a goal before we came in. He finished on 10 goals and if you take away the penalty kicks he probably finishes our leading goalscorer. “From that point of view I think he’s got a point to prove. “I’m also excited about working with Jimmy Spencer. He is a top talent. I don’t think there’s many clubs in League One that wouldn’t have him in the door. “He’s got points to prove and he certainly sees that.” Evans stressed funds were available for strikers as they became available. “We’re still in the market for strikers and the wonderful thing is I have the full support of the owners,” he said. “John Radford phones me more about getting new players in than anyone else which reminds me so much of Tony Stewart at Rotherham. “They have bought into what I am trying to do and they are trying to do it with me.” -------------------- Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans believes the club will make three or four more summer signings as he continues to build a squad capable of reaching League One. http://www.theleaguepaper.com/featured/8264/evans-confident-of-more-mansfield-signings-amid-marquis-rumours/ After releasing 11 players at the end of the season, the Stags have already been busy bringing in new recruits, with 10 new arrivals in total despite the season only finishing 18 days ago. Yesterday, Mansfield CEO Carolyn Radford revealed on Twitter that the club had been rebuffed in their audacious attempt to sign the ‘league’s top-scorer’, seemingly John Marquis of promoted Doncaster, and although that move failed, Evans is confident the club will continue to be active in the transfer market. Speaking to The Mansfield Chad, the former Leeds United boss said: “We’re just trying to add some good players to what we’ve already got in the building. “We have been really efficient. We’ve not just woken up the day after Crawley and thought who are we going to recruit? “We’ve been working on this for three or four months. “We are probably two or three, maximum four, players from where we need to be. If it’s four I don’t think the chairman or chief exec would have too many problems from where we are. If it’s two or three it would be the same answer.” Evans is clearly delighted with the recruitment work done so far this summer, after it was speculated he sought assurances from the club’s hierarchy regarding the playing budget, amid interest from Swindon Town for his services. However, with Conrad Logan, Zandar Diamond, Paul Anderson, Paul Digby, Jimmy Spencer, Hayden White, Lee Angol, Jacob Mellis, David Murfin and Johnny Hunt having already arrived at the Stags, a hefty budget is clearly in place - something that has drawn admiring glances from around the EFL. Evans said: “I have seen a couple of complimentary comments from other managers in the league about us getting on with our business.” Players, as well as supporters, are also impressed, with Evans revealing: “It’s great that I get messages and calls from the squad who were here last year to say these are good signings. Players like to play with good players. “You are rejoicing and looking towards the new season. It doesn’t mean you’re going to win games but it gives you a chance of winning games.” ------------------ Steve Evans promises more signings for Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town fans can expect another three or four summer signings to add to the 10 already in the building as manager Steve Evans continues to build a squad he feels can compete at the top end. Having released 11 players at the end of last season, Evans quickly got to work to bring in better quality and some of his dealings have raised envious eyebrows elsewhere. “I have seen a couple of complimentary comments from other managers in the league about us getting on with our business,” he said. “But we have been really efficient. We’ve not just woken up the day after Crawley and thought who are we going to recruit? Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-promises-more-signings-for-mansfield-town-1-8561702 “We’ve been working on this for three or four months. “We’ve got a couple of players still within the system that we’re going to see how they come back and how they acquit themselves in pre-season and whether they go forward with us. “We don’t want too many players here, probably 22-23 is the optimum number.” He added: “We are probably two or three, maximum four, players from where we need to be. If it’s four I don’t think the chairman or chief exec would have too many problems from where we are. If it’s two or three it would be the same answer. “We’re just trying to add some good players to what we’ve already got in the building.” The new signings have all down as well with last season’s remaining players as they have with supporters. “It’s great that I get messages and calls from the squad who were here last year to say these are good signings. Players like to play with good players,” said Evans. “You are rejoicing and looking towards the new season. It doesn’t mean you’re going to win games but it gives you a chance of winning games.” ------------------- Mansfield Town to bring in an experienced goalkeeper chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town will bring in an experienced goalkeeper as direct competition for new signing Conrad Logan. The Stags released both Brian Jensen and Scott Shearer at the end of the season while loanee Jake Kean returned to Sheffield Wednesday. Having brought in the experienced Logan, boss Steve Evans confirmed he was very much in the market for a second keeper. “I don’t fancy buying a set of gloves - I don’t think the chief exec would sign me even if I did buy a pair of gloves,” he smiled. “We are talking to a couple of options right now - and there are different options. There is the older, more experienced guy, the younger, hungrier guy and the one who is just direct competition. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-to-bring-in-an-experienced-goalkeeper-1-8561552 “At the minute I am preferring just direct competition - and saying ‘Conrad get in the team because we’ve signed this keeper and he’s good as well’.” He added: “Players love competition as well. I know it’s hard sometimes when they don’t play, but you’d rather play in a good team where the level of competition to get in the team is really high. “That’s why I had some of the success with the teams at Rotherham and Crawley. We had a squad that, on any different week we could have picked different teams in different formations and they went out with the same application to win a game. That’s what we’ve got to bring here.” ----------------- Mansfield Town turn down £250,000 bid for Alex MacDonald chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town have turned down an offer of almost £250,000 for midfielder Alex MacDonald. The winger only arrived on a free transfer in the January window. Manager Steve Evans said there had been interest in his players this summer and he is delighted he doesn’t have to sell. “We’ve had two or three enquiries for lads we’ve kept here this year - and we’ve said they are simply not for sale,” he smiled. “Alex MacDonald arrived at this football club for nothing and could have gone out of this football club for almost a quarter of a million last week. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-turn-down-250-000-bid-for-alex-macdonald-1-8560854 “The wonderful thing I get from the owners here is you simply don’t have to sell him.” ------------------ Evans delighted to have Jamie McGuire on coaching staff chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Steve Evans is delighted to have former midfielder Jamie McGuire on the club’s coaching staff next season. Having been released as a full-time player, McGuire was offered the chance to begin his coaching career on the Stags’ U21 staff and accepted that role this week as well as continuing as a part-time player with Boston United. “He is buzzing,” smiled Evans. “He came in and signed his paperwork the other day. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-delighted-to-have-jamie-mcguire-on-coaching-staff-1-8560901 “He came into my office and he had to speak differently as he’s a member of staff not a player now! “But he is a wonderful kid with great enthusiasm. I don’t think there is anyone in the building or the town of Mansfield that doesn’t love him. “If you go and do your shopping at any supermarket, Jammer’s likely to be helping an old lady out, carrying her bag - he’s that type of guy. “He’s infectious and we love having him around. I made it very clear in the early days when I worked with him that I wanted him around. Thankfully once again our chairman has ticked a box.” --------------------- Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans praises Carolyn Radford for her business skills chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans said it is time chief executive Carolyn Radford is given the credit she deserves for her business skills in getting this summer’s transfer deals over the line. While everyone is delighted to see owner John Radford’s finances backing Evans’ war chest, with 10 new faces in already, Evans said Carolyn Radford’s work had been invaluable. “The final bits get done between Carolyn Radford and the agents of the players,” he said. “I must admit we’ve been very lucky in the sense that Carolyn has been able to negotiate one or two things like David Mirfin that I possibly thought we wouldn’t quite be able to get that done. “She has managed to do it, so my grateful thanks to the chairman and the chief executive. “She is in today and she’s been all over. We can all talk about John Radford forever, and so we should, but she deserves enormous credit. “She is answering the phone from me at six in the morning and 12 at night talking about players and systems and deals and projects. “Our chief executive doesn’t get anywhere near the stretch of credit she deserves for her business acumen and how we’ve got some things over the line.” Evans continued: “I said when I first met them that I had to believe there would need to be something in place that would give us a chance to fight for promotion. “They’ve made it clear they want a team that can do that. “It’s not about being runaway league leaders or favourites in the betting and all that nonsense. There are much bigger clubs with much bigger resources than what we’ve got. “But we are trying to be prudent and the one thing I’ve come to know with Carolyn Radford is she knows what 50p means. She knows 50p is 50p. But they have been fantastic. “They are trying their level best to make sure they help us in every way they can.” Evans admitted they had told him one or two of his possible signings were well beyond the current budget. “There are one or two things I have asked, of course that were just beyond where we should be and they’ve quite rightly said that’s not for us at the moment. ‘At the moment’ was the best part of the conversation,” he smiled. “You think okay, maybe I stretched that a little bit. But you work with people, not against them. As a manager I’m only as good as my players and we’re all only as good as the owners.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-boss-steve-evans-praises-carolyn-radford-for-her-business-skills-1-8561647 --------------------- Steve Evans plays down Mansfield Town’s promotion hopes chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Steve Evans disagrees with the bookies’ odds that see Mansfield Town among the favourites for promotion from League Two. But the Stags boss does believe the club have a chance of a serious challenge for a play-off place. “There is a lot of good business being done everywhere and this will be a really competitive league next season,” he said. “We are just trying to make sure we have a squad of players that could compete for promotion. “It’s all about opinion and I think many neutrals will think we’re capable of being in that top six or seven as we go forward from the start of the season.” He added: “I think Coventry must be favourites. They have taken our packages to a different level with a couple of players and we have to respect that. “It is a magnificent football club. A good club and a solid club with a good manager. “We are just trying to do our business and we don’t get involved in auctions.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-plays-down-mansfield-town-s-promotion-hopes-1-8561621 ---------------------- Mansfield Town admit Checkatrade Trophy is a low priority chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Next season’s Checkatrade Trophy will remain a low priority for Mansfield Town. But boss Steve Evans promised he would never short-change the Stags fans by playing a weak side. Sky Bet League One and League Two clubs overwhelmingly voted to support proposals to allow the continued involvement of 16 invited U21 sides from top clubs. The competition was derided by fans, who stayed away in their droves last season. “I think it’s changed slightly in that if it’s an U21s side from the top level or senior clubs in English football then they have to travel away from home,” said Evans. “From my point of view it’s a competition that if I’ve got three or four priorities in the season ahead when it kicks off it won’t be in there. “But we will be playing strong first teams in the competition. “We don’t want enter into games and start thinking we are good enough to be making so many changes that our supporters get short-changed. “Having said that, we will always endeavour to protect the following Saturday.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-admit-checkatrade-trophy-is-a-low-priority-1-8561572 ------------------- |
Latest | May 2017