Archived News from July 2018
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FLITCROFT UPDATES ON TRANSFERS
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Manager updates fans on transfers
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 26 June 2018 Manager David Flitcroft updated supporters on potential transfer activity at a news conference earlier today. Here's a round-up of the main topics covered as the Stags' chief spoke to http://www.mansfieldtown.net, iFollow Stags and the local media. For the full interview, log in to http://www.mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today.. DAVID FLITCROFT ON... BUSINESS CONDUCTED… “It’s been slow and we haven’t had the progression I’ve wanted. Speaking to everyone, the agents and players, there’s been a waiting game. Read more at https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/june/manager-updates-fans-on-transfer-activity/ “Players have wanted top money and good lengthy contracts. It’s about getting a value in that contract and making sure you don’t over exert yourself budget-wise and that players come here for the right reasons. “I’ve spoken to a lot of players as soon as the season finished and they’ve had too much aspiration in terms of the finances. Some of the football chats we had were positive but I want people coming to Mansfield Town for the right reasons. “I won’t come off the vision of what i want the football team to look like. If we lose out on players, we’ll go to the next one. “Hopefully in the next few days there’ll be things happening. We’re negotiating with teams and players so hopefully that wrestle will play dividends." NEW TARGETS… “We're light on strikers and creativity. "Since coming into the building we’ve wanted someone who really excites fans, who gets you off your feet with a dynamic capability. "Looking at the strikers, we have Danny Rose and Lee Angol so that needs filling up. And we have two centre halves in the building so that’s a key position that we’re looking for.” TRIALIST, MIDFIELDER GILES COKE… “Giles is a professional who I’ve always admired. He’s come into the environment to train with us. He’s a local boy. “We’re having a look at him and he’s having a look at us. It’s non-committal. I’ve done it with many players and if they’re the right sort in the right environment then it gives you the chance to judge them.” ------------------------- David Flitcroft quotes: "Eight centre midfield players last season was just insane". "We were interested in Kane Hemmings but the deal got fantastically expensive" ----------------- Flitcroft ‘big admirer’ of Tyler Walker as rumours mount on move chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 26 June 2018 Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft admitted he is a big admirer of exciting Nottingham Forest forward Tyler Walker as he refused to confirm rumours he is about to sign the youngster. Stags are short on forwards and social media has suggested Walker - son of former Forest legend Des Walker - is about to join the Stags after spending the second half of last season out on loan at Bolton Wanderers. The pacey Walker can also play a wide role and a cautious Flitcroft admitted: “He is someone that, when Mark Warburton was there, I had a keen interest in. I watched him a lot. Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/flitcroft-big-admirer-of-tyler-walker-as-rumours-mount-on-move-1-9222671 “But, without sitting on the fence with it, letting people know who your targets are is something I don’t want to do. “I am an admirer of Tyler - 100 per cent - but I’m not going to be drawn on that one.” ------------------- Ex-Stag Coke back training with his former club chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Former Mansfield Town midfielder Giles Coke is back training with the club. The 32-year-old is without a club after his injury-hit stay with neighbours Chesterfield last season saw him start just two games. Mansfield boss David Flitcroft said: “Giles is a professional I have always admired. He’s come into the environment to train with us. He is a local boy. “It’s something I’ve done many times in pre-season. When I get a call asking can I come in and train with you - absolutely. But they’ve got to be the right sort and Giles is. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/ex-stag-coke-back-training-with-his-former-club-1-9223930 “He’s coming in, we’re having a look at him and he’s having a look at us. It’s non-committal. “I’ve done it with many players. If they are the right sort in the right environment, then it gives you a good chance to judge them.” Midfielder Coke hadn’t played competitive football for two years due to injuries when he made his Spireites debut in February, but suffered back-to-back injuries and his second appearance came in the season’s finale. He was not offered a new deal after Town’s relegation to the National League. -------------------- Flitcroft playing the patience game on players as season draws nearer chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft is happy to play the waiting game to get the right players in for the new season. Flitcroft has only brought two new faces in so far, but expects players’ financial demands to drop as the season nears. He has also been linked with a move for Nottingham Forest forward Tyler Walker. “It’s been slow - there’s not been the progression I wanted,” he said. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/flitcroft-playing-the-patience-game-on-players-as-season-draws-nearer-1-9223942 “Speaking to agents and players, it’s been a real waiting game. Players have been wanting top money and good lengthy contracts. “But it’s about getting the value in that contract and making sure that you don’t over-exert yourself, not just in terms of the budget but also in making sure players are coming here for the right reasons. “I spoke to a lot of players early doors as soon as the season finished, but they had too much aspiration in terms of the finances. That’s what their agents wanted to talk about. “I want them to join us for football reasons and if we lose out on players we’ll go for the next one. “I’m hoping things will happen over the next two or three days. We are negotiating with teams and players at the minute, so hopefully that wrestle will finally pay some dividends. “We are being patient - and that goes for everyone in the business. Some did their business early and spent a lot of money on strikers, investing heavily in that. So that took them off the board. “We are now onto that next wave of players. It’s about patience and at times it’s a game of poker. “We have to make sure the next group of players that come into this building do so for football reasons and a desire to do well week in, week out, having that belief we can drive towards some sort of shared success.” Strikers, a creative midfield player and a centre half top his shopping list. “We are light up front and we are light on creativity,” said Flitcroft. “I felt were were short on creativity last season and that’s something we’ve looked at from day one. “We need someone who really excites fans, someone who gets you on your feet with their dynamic capabilities. That’s the type of player we’ve been desperately looking for. “Looking at the strikers, we have a couple of options in Danny Rose and Lee Angol, so that’s need filling up. And then we’ve got two centre halves in the building. That is another key position we are looking for.” He added: “We are all aware we need new blood and the chairman, Carolyn and myself are all working hard on as have continuously since the season finished. “There was a lot of monetary value that players wanted at the start of the summer. But the agents that were ignoring us and didn’t want to speak are back on the phone now and understanding their player may now not get those expectations. “We’ve had more circulars on available players in the last two days than we’ve had probably for most of the summer. “Players are coming back and speaking to managers and new names are coming up. Players we thought were settled at a club maybe aren’t. We still have six weeks to the start of the season so there is plenty of time.” ------------------------ Flitcroft change of mind over loanee strikers chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft admitted he would have liked to have brought last season’s loanee strikers Ricky Miller and Kane Hemmings back to the One Call Stadium but various factors made him decide not to in the end. Flitcroft said he was interested in having both in his squad after working with them. However, Miller’s summer court case and the huge Hemmings put on the Hemmings deal saw him end up looking elsewhere with Miller joining Port Vale and Hemmings signing for neighbours Notts County. “We were in the market for them,” said Flitcroft. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/flitcroft-chnage-of-mind-over-loanee-strikers-1-9226901 “Obviously what went on with Ricky and where he was at from a personal point of view made it a difficult one. He had a lot going on in the summer. “It was well publicised and was obviously something we looked at. “Kane was someone we were interested in, but his deal got fantastically expensive as it probably out there and it wasn’t one we looked at beyond that.” ---------------------- Stags waiting on fees for transfer-listed quintet chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town are still waiting on firm offers of money for five of his six players that were transfer-listed this summer. Defender Johnny Hunt was allowed to join Stevenage on a free transfer this week. But boss David Flitcroft wants a fee for Zander Diamond, Will Atkinson, Paul Digby, Calum Butcher and Paul Anderson. There has been interest and enquiries but no sign of offers so far. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-waiting-on-fees-for-transfer-listed-quintet-1-9226723 “That’s what we’ve been waiting for and we’ve been stalled on that,” said Flitcroft. “We see them at a value and, while there has been interest, no one has put themselves up and said ‘we’ll give you this for the player’. “We’ve got a value for each player on the list and we’re pretty much sticking to that. “The last two or three days the phone has been non-stop as people get back to work. We will see what happens over the next two or three weeks.” --------------------- Smaller squad the way to Stags success? chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS David Flitcroft has confirmed he will go with a smaller Mansfield Town squad this season as he believes that is a better template for success and togetherness. The manager would not say how many players were still required, saying: “I’m not going to get drawn into numbers as it depends what goes out. “We are trying to balance it. The squad will be smaller than last time. It will be quality over quantity. “When you look at any top side or promotion-winning side, it will be done on a smaller squad and by a group of players that probably play 35/36 games plus. There is a consistency level. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/smaller-squad-the-way-to-stags-success-1-9226738 “At times last season there were nearly 20 players you couldn’t pick on a Saturday as you could only pick 11. That proved itself difficult.” He continued: “We need adequate numbers and adequate balance in positions. We had eight central midfield players season which was just insane. “The balance of the squad to me didn’t feel right. So we have to make sure we have that cover and balance sorted. But it could be just as the season starts there might be late additions. And there might be some players leaving us.” Flitcroft expects the summer transfer market to kick into life soon. “Pre-season is all about a domino effect,” he said. “You will see that as players move and people get their number one targets then that releases someone else, and then someone else. It’s a game of patience.” --------------------- Stags boss happy with opening month’s fixtures chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft was happy with his side’s first month of opposition when the 2018/19 fixture list was released last week. For the third time in seven seasons Mansfield Town will take on Newport County on the opening day of the new season, this time at home, before a first away game at Yeovil. The opening month also contains away games at both promoted National league sides Tranmere and Macclesfield inside four days after a home game with Colchester. “It’s probably been kind to us in terms of travelling as that first month you can get hit with some heavy fixtures. But we’ve not really got the travel apart from Yeovil,” smiled Flitcroft. “Starting with a home fixture is brilliant for everyone. “Then we have an away fixture at Yeovil, which has probably come at a good time. We can get down there and get that one out of the way when the pitch will be fantastic. “It leads you into then the two bounce clubs that have come up. “I think wherever you look in the league there are twists and stories, intrigue and interest. “The non-League clubs will be buoyant from coming up and will maybe get a bounce. “Will the relegated teams hit the ground running? “We are planning for the Newport game on the back of what we do for the Rotherham game. The highly anticipated local derbies with Notts County take place at home on Saturday, 8th December and at Meadow Lane on Saturday, 16th February. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-happy-with-opening-month-s-fixtures-1-9226890 ----------------------- Bishop experience will be key for Stags next season chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS David Flitcroft believes experienced midfielder Neil Bishop will prove to be a key signing next season. Bishop will be 37 in the first week of the new signing but is still full of energy and guile. “He brings us experience and when you look at his career over the last three or four years he has always been part of something successful,” said Flitcroft. “At Scunthorpe over the last couple of years you could argue they over-achieved - and Neil was a massive, massive part of that. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/bishop-experience-will-be-key-for-stags-next-season-1-9226878 “He does have that experience. But he’s also got the energy and desire.” He added: “The biggest thing when I spoke to him was his desire to come to a club on an upward curve. It was really important for Neil to feel the force of our ambition, which he did. “To get a solid, top professional in the dressing room and on the training pitch, demanding standards was important for this group. “With the lads we looked to release from last season, our squad has gone younger, and he gives us that experience.” -------------------------- Stags head for Portugal and first friendly chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town head off to Portugal tomorrow for a week-long training camp, culminating with a friendly with Dundee on Saturday, 7th July. Manager David Flitcroft sees the week as a great chance to bond and assess how close his U21s are to chasing a first team place. “The Portugal trip will tell us everything,” he said. “It will give me a great insight into our U21s and see statistically and physically where they are with the first team. “Then there’s the camaraderie in terms of bringing those 21s with the first team - who stands out? Who is a good socialiser? Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-head-for-portugal-and-first-friendly-1-9226919 “It’s really important and once we’ve gauged that we can get balanced teams for the other games. “Some pre-season games will be top-ups. We may play 11 players on the Saturday and then on the Tuesday make sure we get the numbers into the others. “It’s all about getting minutes and it’s something that, as pre-season progresses, can change due to injuries or numbers coming in or out. We don’t have a definitive plan now.” He added: “Our pre-season schedule is full now. We’ve got some non-League games plus some fantastic opponents in terms of stature. “The Rotherham game has been designed to really get us ready. With them getting promoted and the feelgood factor, hopefully there will be a good travelling support come to visit us. But that will replicate a really tough test for us. The quality we have coming to us in those other games is phenomenal. “What we’ve found pre-season in the past is that when you play the non-League teams you get a different riser when you play the top Championship and sometimes Premiership teams and your stats go through the roof. That’s what we’re hoping for in those games. “We sat down with John Dempster, Coops (Richard Cooper) and Mike Whitlow and designed it.” --------------------- Stags set to shore up defence after forwards success J chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Although Mansfield Town now have their full complement of forwards, manager David Flitcroft will still be delving into the transfer market for defenders. And being in Portugal for the week-long training camp will not halt his progress. He said: “There are still things going on behind the scenes. We are still short defensively we have made no secret of that. It’s something we are looking into. “But we will still keep looking. You just never know. You never know about enquiries on some of our players. "I think there will be a lot of movement - not particularly at this football club. There will be a domino effect.” He added: “The front end now has everything I wanted. Now we have the numbers and ability up there to put teams to the sword. “I now need to work with them and get the combinations and partnerships right. I need to get the balance right.” Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-set-to-shore-up-defence-after-forwards-success-1-9232714 -------------------- |
Latest | July 2018