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Archived News from July 2018

STAGS SIGN OTIS KHAN FROM YEOVIL
8th July 2018 10:11


Stags make treble swoop!
mansfieldtown.net, Friday 29 June 2018

Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft has made a treble swoop with the loan signing of Nottingham Forest striker Tyler Walker along with permanent additions of attacking midfielder Otis Khan and experienced striker Craig Davies from Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic, respectively.

Highly-rated Reds’ striker Tyler Walker joins the Stags on loan until the end of the season.

Dynamic midfielder Khan has signed a two year deal at One Call Stadium after the Stags agreed an undisclosed fee with Yeovil for the 22-year-old.

Frontman Davies has penned a two year contract after the Stags landed the 32-year-old from Oldham for an undisclosed fee.

On his first Championship start of last season, Tyler Walker netted twice for the Reds in a 4-0 win against Queens Park Rangers and later penned a new deal at the City Ground until the summer of 2021.

The Nottingham born youngster, 21, has loan experience with Burton Albion, Stevenage Port Vale and Bolton Wanderers and is capped at England U20 level.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/june/stags-make-treble-swoop/#.WzZOv4IhnBU.twitter

After his schooling at Manchester United, Otis Khan signed for Sheffield United’s development side in 2012 before making his first team debut for the Blades two years later.

Comfortable central or out wide, Khan then enjoyed a spell with Barnsley before signing for Yeovil in the summer of 2016 and has since been their stand-out performer.

Former Wales international Craig Davies netted 14 times for his previous club Oldham, who were recently relegated from League One.

Amongst other clubs in a career which started at Manchester City, the 32-year-old has played for Brighton, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Bolton and Wigan in the past eight years.

Chief executive officer Carolyn Radford said: “We’re thrilled to have Tyler, Otis and Craig now in our ranks ahead of next season following much hard work behind-the-scenes in recent weeks.

“We’ve had to remain patient and professional in equal measure but we know these signings will excite our supporters and add real quality to our squad.

“Tyler’s loan transfer has come as a result of a new, special relationship with Nottingham Forest and their owners, who I thank for their characteristic professionalism. We have agreed to pay a contribution to the player’s wages and our ambition is to aid Tyler’s development while he plays a significant part in our season this term.

“We have been closely monitoring Otis and Craig for some time and their desire and hunger to play for the Stags are qualities which fit perfectly into our model.”

Manager David Flitcroft said: “There’s been a lot of hard miles and real hard graft put into these deals and I’m delighted for everyone at the club and thank the chairman and Carolyn for their support in making these signings happen.

“I’ve not been deterred from my vision of what the team will look like and what it will represent to our supporters and I’m absolutely delighted with the signings, especially before the Portugal training camp next week.

“It was key that we got the players in this week to settle in with the group so next week in Portugal we can lay down our battle plans.”

For extensive, exclusive coverage of the new signings, log in to http://www.mansfieldtown.net/ifollow over the coming days.

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New Stags' midfielder says he has joined a 'club on the up'
mansfieldtown.net

Dynamic midfielder Otis Khan has said he has joined a ‘club that is going places’ in Mansfield Town, and believes that his switch to One Call Stadium from Yeovil Town is the right move to develop him as a player.

Khan, 22, signed on a two-year deal from the Glovers last Friday, and is eager to begin his career as a Stag.

The former Manchester United trainee has said that the conversation he had with manager David Flitcroft prior to signing his deal ‘excited’ him, and feels he is joining a club on the up.

“I feel buzzing and can’t wait to get started. I’ve met some of the lads and I’m delighted to be here,” he said.

“Just from the first day and seeing everyone involved with the club, I really feel like it’s a club that’s going places and I’m excited for this year.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/july/otis-khan-interview/

“The first presentation I had with the manager really excited me. They really understand me as a player and in terms of developing myself as a player Mansfield was the best place for me to do that.

“I feel like it’s a time in my career that I need to develop myself as a player and I really believe everyone involved in Mansfield will help me do that.”

Khan also added that he enjoys getting fans out of their seats with his exciting play, and spoke of his favourite position on the pitch.

“That’s what I like to do [get fans out of their seats]. That’s what I enjoy doing. I’m a direct player who likes to get the ball, excite the fans and bring my team-mates into play. It’s what I’m about,” he added.

“I really enjoyed my time at Yeovil over the past two seasons. I developed a lot there as a player. They gave me the opportunity to play and I can’t thank them enough. They made me the player I am today.

“I’d say in the number 10 role [is my favourite position]. Picking the ball up in the pockets between their defence and midfield and creating goals [is what I’m best at].”

The 22-year-old is also looking forward to the start of the 2018-19 season, but says that there is plenty of hard work to be done before the first day of the new campaign comes.

“It can be a difficult League but we play the right way here and I can really see us doing well this year against every team in the League.

“It’s a club that’s moving in the right place and I can’t wait to get started.

“If you work hard every day, the rest will come. I do the best I can for myself, my team-mates, the club, the chairman and to keep getting fitter and stronger every day. By the time the first day of the season comes I’ll be fit and ready.

“I think the move is the perfect time for me. It’s the right stage in my career and it’s the right club for me. I really believe it’s going to be an exciting year.”

iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Otis Khan’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow.

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Mansfield the perfect move for me says livewire Khan
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Livewire youngster Otis Khan firmly believes Mansfield Town is the perfect club to develop him as a player after turning down offers from bigger clubs to join them. Midfielder Khan signed a two-year deal from Yeovil Town on Friday after being excited by Mansfield Town’s plans. The 22-year-old former Manchester United trainee said: “Just from the first day and seeing everyone involved with the club, I really feel like it’s a club that’s going places and I’m excited for this year.

“The first presentation I had with the manager and assistant really excited me. “They really understand me as a player and in terms of developing myself as a player Mansfield was the best place for me to do that. “I feel like it’s a time in my career that I need to develop myself as a player and I really believe everyone involved in Mansfield will help me do that.”

Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-the-perfect-move-for-me-says-livewire-khan-1-9231829

Boss David Flitcroft believes Khan is the player needed to really excite supporters and Khan said: “That’s what I like to do. “That’s what I enjoy doing. I’m a direct player who likes to get the ball, excite the fans, create, score goals and bring my team-mates into play. It’s what I’m about. “I’d say in the number 10 role is my favourite position. Picking the ball up in the pockets between their defence and midfield and creating goals is what I’m best at.”

Although delighted to develop his career at Mansfield, Khan will always be grateful for what Yeovil have done for him. “I really enjoyed my time at Yeovil over the past two seasons.” he said. “I developed a lot there as a player. They gave me the opportunity to play and I can’t thank them enough. They made me the player I am today.” He certainly knows League Two well and added: “It can be a difficult league but we play the right way here and I can really see us doing well this year against every team in League Two. “It’s a club that’s moving in the right direction and I can’t wait to get started. “If you work hard every day, the rest will come. I do the best I can for myself, my team-mates, the club, the chairman and to keep getting fitter and stronger every day. By the time the first day of the season comes I’ll be fit and ready. “I think the move is the perfect time for me. It’s the right stage in my career and it’s the right club for me. I really believe it’s going to be an exciting year. “I am buzzing and can’t wait to get started. I’ve met some of the lads and I’m delighted to be here.”

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Stags' boss pleased to add trio in time for Portugal trip
mansfieldtown.net

Stags' boss David Flitcroft says getting the deals for the trio of Otis Khan, Tyler Walker and Craig Davies over the line before Mansfield Town jetted off to Portugal for their pre-season training camp was vital, as it allows him to work with his new additions over the course of this week.

Stags trained for the first time in Portugal this afternoon, after landing safely at 11am local time.

Manager Flitcroft added the trio of signings to his ranks last Friday, with Stags announcing the treble swoop all at the same time in what was a dramatic day at One Call Stadium.

The Stags' boss said he is 'delighted' with the signings, and paid tribute to the support of chairman John Radford and CEO Carolyn Radford in getting the deals over the line.

Flitcroft highlighted the importance of getting the trio in before the first team jetted off to Portugal for their pre-season training camp, in order to allow the new forwards to gel with the rest of the squad.

"I'm absolutely delighted with everyone at the club and the chairman and Carolyn's support in this. They are three signings that we have been chasing long and chasing hard," said the manager.

"I've not gone off the vision in my head as to what the team is going to look like and what it's going to represent to the supporters.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/july/flitcroft-on-stags-treble-swoop/

"We've kept going for our key targets and to pull them all off has took some real hard work and graft behind the scenes. I'm absolutely delighted.

"I think getting them in before the Portugal trip [was important]. We really wanted them in for this week settling in with the group.

"Tyler Walker has come here for football reasons. He has an ambition, and that's what I do know. He wants to make it to the Premier League and that is something I spoke to him about in length - how can we get Tyler Walker to the Premier League."

"Otis Khan has been at Manchester United has a trainee. He has the United mind, the United habits, the United feet. He has gone down to Yeovil and done some real hard graft and miles. His work ethic is phenomenal. He's been training with a performance coach all summer which we have been keeping tabs on.

"They all have incredible quality. Craig Davies takes care in his work and in his training - he has real professionalism. These boys have vast amount of quality, pace and power. That's something we certainly needed in the squad.

"These players are coming in to make maximum impact on a Saturday or a Tuesday night. They've come in with an ambition and hunger to score goals - all three of them. That's the word I want, I want ambitious players here. I want to move this club forward."

The Stags' boss spoke of the experience that striker Craig Davies adds to the ranks at One Call Stadium, following his acquisition from Oldham Athletic.

"I've always been able to work with a striker who wants to lead the line, who sees it as his ambition to lead the line. He [Davies] has got the calibre to do that and the personality to do that,” he said.

"He enjoys causing defenders real problems. He's a physical specimen.

"What he has now done has linked the centre of the pitch up in terms of a leadership group. You have Conrad Logan or Bobby Olejnik, you have [Krystian] Pearce, [Neal] Bishop, [Alex] MacDonald who have the experience and the know-how.

"We have young strikers at the club who are a little inexperienced at times, but Craig gives us that experience and he certainly gives opposition real problems."

Manager Flitcroft added that Otis Khan, who signed for the Stags on a two-year deal from Yeovil Town, is a player that will get the fans out of their seats.

"Otis [Khan] for six or seven months of the season last season blew the league away with his potency and his quality. I look at him as a fan as well, and he is the player who will get the fans excited and get the fans off their feet. When he gets the ball you're looking for him to do something.

"He has dynamic movement and is a player that certainly excites me when I watch him. He can create something from nothing and has that creative spark. That's the thing I have brought him to the club for - his creation and his spark.

"He's a player that I want to work with on the training ground. I do believe we are bringing an asset to the football club and he is in an environment where he can flourish."

Tyler Walker joined Mansfield on loan from Nottingham Forest, and is a player that the Stags' boss has admired for some time. Flitcroft added that it was the relationship that the chairman and CEO share with Nottingham Forest that made the deal possible.

"He [Walker] went to America with the team [Nottingham Forest] last year but he was right on the fringe. I enquired about him then but didn't get the chance to work with him. I kept tabs on him since then. I think what has got the deal over the line is the relationship that John and Carolyn have with Nottingham Forest,” he added.

"The big thing for me for Tyler was that he had good options, but he saw the football plan here and wanted to sign for us. With his dad's blessing, and that was important for me as he is a legend of the game, it was important for me that he made the right football decision.

"The deal wouldn't have got over the line without the backing of the chairman and Carolyn. It's full credit to them really."

Despite the Stags' boss flying out to Portugal with the squad this week, he maintained that the club may still be active in the transfer market.

"There are still things going on behind the scenes. We are still short defensively, we need defensive cover. We make no secret of that.

"We have promoted three of the younger players up to train with the first team and they will be training with us for the morning and night sessions.

"We'll still be fine-tuning and adjusting our playing squad and that will run up to the start of the season now. I can go to Portugal and really work with that front end of the pitch because we've added real quality to our squad."

iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager's answers in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today.

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chad.co.uk
Flicroft believes Khan will have fans on the edge of their seats. “For six or seven months last season Otis just blew the league away with his potency and quality,” he said. “The chairman and Carolyn have backed me on the fee for him. “I look at him as a fan as well and, when I came into this football club, I didn’t see that player that gets the fans excited and off your seat. Every time he gets the ball you’re looking for him to do something. “He can go either way. He’s got ballistic movement. He is a player that certainly excited me when I watch him. He can create something from nothing. “He has a creative spark in him which is one reason I am bringing him to the club. I know we can improve the boy. “He is the typical sort of Dave Flitcroft player who you can work with on the training ground and the value grows - he is an asset to the club. “He is now in an environment in which he can flourish. “He was a trainee at Manchester United and he has got Manchester United habits and Manchester United feet.”

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/patience-pays-for-flitcroft-as-he-lands-all-three-key-targets-1-9232171

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Stags strengthen attacking options with triple signing
chad.co.uk, Friday 29 June 2018

David Flitcroft has today bolstered his attacking options at Mansfield Town for next season with the signings of Tyler Walker, Otis Khan and Craig Davies.

Highly-rated forward Walker, 21, has joined Mansfield on a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest while attacking midfielder Khan, 22, and experienced striker Davies, 32, have both signed two-year deals.

Stags sign Tyler Walker, pictured here playing for Forest Stags chief executive officer Carolyn Radford was “thrilled” to get the three deals done after much hard work, which saw undisclosed fees paid to Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic for the services of Khan and Davies respectively.

Walker, son of Forest legend Des, made 33 appearances in total for Forest in the Championship, largely from the substitutes’ bench, since making his debut for the Reds in March 2015. He has had spells at Burton Albion, Stevenage, Port Vale and Bolton Wanderers over the last two seasons and will be aiming to gain as much first team experience as possible at the One Call Stadium.

While Stags beat off stiff competition for 22-year-old Khan with rumoured interest from Preston North End, Wigan and Shrewsbury emerging earlier this week. Khan began his career at Manchester United before joining Sheffield United’s academy, where he made two first team appearances, and went on to play for Buxton, Matlock Town and Barrow on loan. He joined Barnsley in January 2016 before moving to Yeovil that summer and has gone on to make 67 appearances for the Glovers during that time, scoring 22 goals in the process.

And much-travelled former Wales international Davies netted 14 times for his previous club Oldham, who were recently relegated from League One. Amongst other clubs in a career which started at Manchester City, he has played for Brighton, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Bolton and Wigan in the past eight years.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stags-strengthen-attacking-options-with-triple-signing-1-9228743

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NEWS - Khan departs for Mansfield
Winger transfers for undisclosed fee
Friday 29 June 2018
https://www.ytfc.net/news/2018/june/news--khan-departs-for-mansfield/

Town winger Otis Khan has signed for Mansfield after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.

Arriving from Sheffield United in June 2016, the former Manchester United youngster went on to make 87 appearances in Green & White scoring 18 goals.

During 2017/18, Khan became the first Town player to score 10 goals before the turn of the year since Phil Jevons in 2004 before a stop-start second half to the campaign.

Commenting on the departure, Darren Way told YTFC.net: "Otis made a massive contribution with his goals and assists during his time with us and is a prime example of what you can achieve at this football club.

"We've built the club to a point where we don't have to sell without remuneration and within two-years Otis has come in and moved on for a substantial sum.

"It's four years since we last received a transfer fee and we now look forward to developing our next crop of talent whilst being in a position where we don't have to sell."

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Khan Move To Stags Is Confirmed
29 June 2018
http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/news/news.asp?NewsItemId=28670

Yeovil Town winger Otis Khan has left Huish Park. The 22 year old has signed a contract with fellow League Two side Mansfield Town two years after joining the club on a free transfer from Barnsley. Although the fee between the two clubs is officially undisclosed, it is known that Khan had a clause built into his contract that allowed him to move provided a transfer fee was met by the buying club. That fee was reported by Teamtalk back in May as being £100,000.

Khan made 87 appearances for the Glovers, mainly as a left-winger or as a left-sided wide forward in a 4-3-3. He scored 18 goals during his time with the club. On both occasions it was the first half of the season that proved to be the most fruitful - during 2016-17, he sustained an ankle injury that curtailed his season from January onwards, whilst during the 2017-18 campaign, a combination of events, including a five match suspension appeared to unsettle what had been some stunning form up until the Christmas fixture schedule that saw him score 10 goals and claim 10 assists.

Khan's move comes after some hefty transfer rumours and speculation, involving up to ten clubs, of which Bristol Rovers were the one previously confirmed club to have matched the release clause in Khan's contract. He turned down the League One side, and will now move to a club that missed out on the League Two play-offs by one position at the end of last season. The best of luck to him in his future career.

Otis has signed a two year contract at Field Mill.

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earlier rumours:

EFL transfer talk @EFLTransferTalk (5 June 2018)
#Stags and #STFC chasing Yeovil winger Otis Khan. Other clubs sniffing around the #YTFC winger as well.

twitter TEAMtalk @TEAMtalk (27 June 2018)
EXCLUSIVE
Mansfield Town have had a bid accepted for Yeovil's Otis Khan.
We understand Preston North End, Wigan & Shrewsbury all retain an interest in the player.

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twitter Chris Spittles @ChrisSpittles (29 June 2018)
No surprise to see Khan depart #ytfc As I said earlier this week, good for club to get a fee for a player they got for free. Started both his #ytfc seasons well but both times there was a performance drop-off post Xmas for differing reasons. On his day capable of playing higher.
The release clause for Khan - widely reported to be £100k - had become well-known by interested parties. Khan turned down Bristol Rovers and Luton in Jan and clearly sees Mansfield as promotion contenders this time. Their ambition plus location (further north) deciding factors
Earlier tweet (27 June 2018):
Mansfield boss David Flitcroft was keen on #ytfc winger Otis Khan when he was at Swindon, so would not be surprised if he has now come back in for him. All clubs well aware of the clause amount as well.
Khan would prefer a move further north to be close to his family, who are in the North West. Only he will know if Mansfield is 'north enough'. #ytfc
Sounds like Mansfield could well be far enough north for #ytfc winger Otis Khan. Club willing to meet release fee, deal could be completed this week. Inevitable he would go, at least Yeovil will get money for a player they picked up for free.

twitter Adam Driscoll @AdamDriscoll92 (27 June 2018)
Told today that Luton are no longer in race for Otis Khan.
Quite a story behind it but involves another target being available. That deal itself may be complicated as the selling club want one of our own.

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Earlier story:
Commercial Website Claims 'Bid Accepted' For Otis Khan
27 June 2018
ciderspace.co.uk

Yeovil Town winger Otis Khan is being linked once again with a move away from Huish Park. The former Barnsley, Sheffield United and Manchester United player is claimed to have had a 'bid accepted' by Yeovil Town following an offer made by League Two Mansfield Town. Once again, the claims made by TeamTalk - one of the Sky Sports chain of websites - who made claims last month that he was on his way out of the club, listing Championship side Preston North End plus League One trio Burton Albion, Oxford United and Luton Town as the supposed interested clubs.

Teamtalk now eliminate all of those clubs from their May 2018 list, with the exception of Preston North End, and instead add in Wigan Athletic and Shrewsbury Town as supposedly interested sides along with reported frontrunners Mansfield Town. Once you add in the January bid from Bristol Rovers - the one and only officially confirmed interest in his services - along with further reports of Bradford City's interest, there is some serious games of pinning the tail on the donkey going on.

In fairness, the 'new' interest from Mansfield Town, may be a continuation of rumoured interest from their manager David Flitcroft. He was manager of Swindon Town for much of the 2017-18 season, with the Robins being one of the earlier clubs to be named on the rumourmill as showing an interest in him. Although Swindon's position was never confirmed, there's been nothing coming from the County Ground since Flitcroft's decision to jump ship for Mansfield on March 1st 2018. The emergence of Mansfield's claimed interest in the player may therefore come down to Flitcroft himself.

Khan is known to have a clause in his contract entitling him to talk to other clubs, in the event of a transfer fee being met - a value that Teamtalk last month claimed was £100,000 although the actual value has never been confirmed by Yeovil Town. That clause does not force him to leave the building, but merely gives him the option to leave if he is able to agree terms with the buying club.

Unusually, although Teamtalk describe this as an 'exclusive', they have only reported it on Twitter - it hasn't made it as far as their website. Their account simply states:

"EXCLUSIVE : Mansfield Town have had a bid accepted for Yeovil's Otis Khan. We understand Preston North End, Wigan and Shrewsbury all retain an interest in the player."

Given the stories about Khan have been rumbling on for around six or seven months now, and involving up to ten clubs, the claim that Mansfield have had a bid accepted may not result in actual movement.

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OLD STORY
Ninja Warrior Star Otis Khan Signs For Barnsley
By Steve Sutcliffe, 28/01/16
https://www.lfe.org.uk/news/ninja-warrior-star-khan-signs-for-barnsley

Winger Otis Khan, the star of last weekend’s Ninja Warrior show on ITV has joined Barnsley after being released by Sheffield United.

The right-sided, attacking midfielder has been on trial with the Tykes after being told that he could leave Bramall Lane. The 20-year-old came through the Blades apprenticeship programme and signed his first professional contract in 2014.

He recently enjoyed a loan spell at National League club Barrow and came to national prominence by completing the Ninja Warrior course last Saturday. The ITV show attracts over 3 million viewers.

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