Archived News from March 2010
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HOLDSWORTH REACTION TO SALISBURY GAME
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David Holdsworth video interview --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1988741,00.html --------------------------- Holdsworth moves on Evening Post, March 09, 2010 MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth today vowed to 'move on' from Saturday's season ticket incident. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Holdsworth-moves/article-1897601-detail/article.html The Stags boss had a book thrown in his direction by an angry fan at half-time in the Salisbury game. Mansfield were winning 2-1 at the time and went on to secure a 4-2 triumph. Holdsworth was so annoyed by what happened that he refused to speak to the media after the game. But he insists the time is right to forget the whole thing and get on with thinking about Mansfield's clash with Tamworth on Saturday. "It's important to remember that fans, players and managers all have frustrations," he said. "Sometimes your first reaction is not always your best reaction. Sometimes you are better off stepping away. "With the greatest respect to the gentleman in question, it was regrettable because we have still got a lot to play for. I have never seem it happen before when your team is winning. "But I have had some very positive reaction since then from a lot of fans. There was a very positive reaction at full-time too, it was tremendous. "I would really like to move on because I don't want to gloss over what was a very good performance. "The fans really got behind the team in the second half and a section of them were very vocal." Luke Jones is still waiting to have a scan on his injured ankle while Ollie Hotchkiss (also ankle) is expected to be out for a further 10 days to a fortnight. But Jake Speight has resumed full training, along with Andy Burgess after the midfielder recovered from illness. --------------------- Fans rally after row CHAD.co.uk, 11 March 2010, By John Lomas STAGS boss David Holdsworth has been delighted with the backing from supporters after a fan threw a season ticket at him when the side were leading in-form Salisbury City 1-0 at half-time. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Fans-rally-after-row.6143236.jp E-mails and letters of support have flooded in after the inexplicable incident in a game which Stags eventually won 4-2 to keep their play-offs hopes alive. Holdsworth also warned fans to expect more of the same this Saturday when visitors TamwortADVERTISEMENTh are also likely to arrive with a formation designed to frustrate Stags and their fans. The season ticket incident came as a shock with Stags ahead against a side six games unbeaten and Holdsworth was too angry to talk about it after the game. However, on Tuesday, he said: "I have learned in life that sometimes your first reaction is not your best reaction. "Sometimes it's better to take a step away as two wrongs don't make a right. "It would have been foolish to come out and say something silly about what I hope, with the greatest respect to the gentleman, was a regrettable incident. "He reacted the way he did and I am moving on. "He wasn't nasty or aggressive to me, he just threw his ticket. I have never seen that before when a team is winning. "But the response has been incredible and I have had some wonderful e-mails. It is not just about me, it's about the club and there are a lot of fans that care very much." He added: "I know there is a legacy here of being hard on Mansfield but we have to move on and there is still a lot to play for. "The most important thing was that the fans got behind us so well in the second half which gave the lads a good lift. I would like to thank the fans for their support at the weekend - it was tremendous. "They really got behind us and we are grateful for that. They can play their part and will do. I would like to move on from this now and it is important we do. The club have made a statement and I don't want it to gloss over a very good performance. "Salisbury came with five centre halves which I have never seen here before, so patience was always going to be the key. "It might have been a lot different if Rob Duffy was able to put the ball in the net in the first minute. "They came here to frustrate us and make it dull. But we scored four goals and let in two soft, deflected goals against us so there were a lot of plus points. "We need to be patient and appreciate that teams are coming here and paying us a huge amount of respect." The club's board of directors issued a statement which read: "We would like to reiterate that we do not condone the actions of this 'supporter' and will not tolerate any object thrown at anyone inside Field Mill. "We recognise that this is an isolated incident as we regard the majority of our supporters as the best in the country. "We have been made aware of this 'supporter's' identity and a further statement will be made once he has been contacted. "We are, along with the fans, delighted with the performance and result from today's fantastic victory. As a board, we will do our utmost to support the manager and players in any way possible in our continued push for promotion." The decision to expunge expelled Chester City's record took effect this week losing Stags six vital points and Holdsworth said: "Obviously I expected it but it was a big blow when it actually happened and we have to pick ourselves up. "It's probably cost us more than the other teams. But we can't sit and sulk about it. We are four without defeat and there is a lot of confidence around the place." Saturday's visitors Tamworth were beaten 4-2 at home by Stags on 13th February and Holdsworth said: "Tamworth know we battered them at their place and they will come here with a game plan and we expect much of the same as last weekend. Teams are going to come here and try to build a wall." On Tuesday Mansfield then face a crucial home 'six-pointer' against play-off rivals York City (7.45pm). --------------------- Contract talks 'put on ice' Evening Post, March 10, 2010 MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth today urged his out-of-contract players to prove they are worth a deal next season. http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Contract-talks-ice/article-1899049-detail/article.html A number of his Stags squad come to the end of their deals at the end of this campaign. But Holdsworth asserts he has put contract talks on ice during the important run-in. "We are not in a position where we can open talks right now, although I have spoken to the chairman (Andy Perry) about such matters and he has been tremendous" he said. "We are looking for the right type of players, but where we are in the season, the players are playing for their futures. "If we do go well and get into the play-off positions and get into a higher division then it may change things. "But at the moment, it is all to play for and even those players who are under contract are fighting for their futures – because they're fighting for a place in the side." Mansfield are now six points off the Blue Square Premier play-offs after Chester City's expulsion from the league was confirmed on Monday. Holdsworth admits that is a blow, but says the players must stay focused and professional. He said: "A look at the (revised) table didn't make me feel good. We expected it, but when it happens it's not great. But we have to pick ourselves up as a club and that's the message we have to get out. "We are now four games without defeat and after the performance on Saturday (against Salisbury) there is a lot of confidence. "No one here wanted it and it has probably cost us more than the other teams, but nothing is going to change it, so you have to be pragmatic. "There are still a lot of positives." ---------------------------- Speight: I hope to play a vital role for Stags Evening Post, March 09, 2010 JAKE Speight is convinced he still has a vital part to play for Mansfield Town this season. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Speight-hope-play-vital-role-Stags/article-1893064-detail/article.html? The Stags striker has been out since the 2-0 defeat to Gateshead in early February with a knee injury that required surgery. But the former Sheffield United player is now firmly on the comeback trail and hopes to be available against Tamworth on Saturday. Mansfield have 11 games left to force their way into the Blue Square Premier play-offs. And Speight, who has ten goals this season, believes he can play a pivotal role. He said: "It's not going to be easy to get back in the team because the strikers have done well in my absence. "Jon Shaw has three in four, I know Duffers (Rob Duffy) was delighted to score his 15th of the season against Salisbury and Pezza (Kyle Perry) came on to get his first for a while at the weekend. "I am pleased for all of them, but I feel I can bring something to the side that the others don't. "We have still got the Chester thing hanging over us, but the lads have done really well to stay positive and we see no reason why we still can't reach the play-offs." Mansfield boss David Holdsworth was left fuming after a fan threw a season ticket at him at half-time. Speight is baffled by such a reaction as the Stags were leading 2-1 and went on to post a 4-2 success. He said: "You can't please everyone. There is always someone who is not happy. "But, as I have said before, the fans in general have been brilliant this season, and people can see there aren't many games when we haven't done ourselves justice." ---------------------------- |
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