Archived News from December 2016
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EVANS CASTS EYE OVER YOUTH TEAM / SCOUT NAMED
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Stags' chief casts his eye over youngsters
mansfieldtown.net, 13th December 2016 Stags’ boss Steve Evans has today continued his analysis of the current playing staff at the club by inviting the youth team to train alongside his senior players. The manager has said numerous times during his first month in charge of the club that he will be assessing all members of the playing staff in the weeks before the opening of the January transfer window as he decides in which areas he needs to improve his squad. And the boss has today given our youth team the chance to impress him as they took part in a training match against members of the first team who have found game-time limited in Sky Bet League Two. “The analysis has to go across all the playing staff and if I was a parent of one of those young 17-18-year-old kids, I’d want to be asking ‘has Steve Evans looked at my boy, has he seen him in action?’,” the Stags' chief said. “One of the things I did promise the chairman and the chief executive when I came in is that my analysis of the playing squad and staff goes right across the whole remit. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/stags-chief-casts-his-eye-over-youngsters-3466772.aspx#b3pHHX8z8HKzpXBk.99 “We’ve had different players that's been recommended by John (Dempster, academy manager) and the staff that send people across, but there’s nothing better than looking for yourself. “It might feel as if you’re a right-back in the under 18s and you might thinks there’s only the strikers or the centre-halves or something going across [to train with the first team] and [will] you get your chance - well here is an opportunity to be a shining light. “We won’t be shy; we’ve always said if they’re good enough, they’re certainly old enough so I’m looking forward to seeing them.” After assistant manager Paul Raynor spoke last week about a new scouting network which is currently being put in place, the manager has now revealed the identity of the new scout who has joined the club. “There’s possibly going to be more than one but we’ve brought a gentleman called Stuart Gray in. Not the Stuart Gray of course of Sheffield Wednesday fame but it’s a man who’s worked with us for four or five years now and he was part of a team run by another [person] who was fantastic. “We’re trying desperately hard to make sure we cover all areas for this football club, that’s important to us. “He’s worked for many years with John Ward at the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cheltenham and of course with Kenny Jackett and he’s been at Rotherham for four-and-a-half years and despite their perils at the bottom of the Championship, they’ve had nothing but success for three-and-a-half of those years. “Him and Gee (Evans, the manager’s brother) played a massive part, Gee particularly, but Stuart as well played a massive part. At the minute, we’re making little steps in to making big steps.” With the early parts of today’s training taking place behind the gaffer as he spoke to the assembled media, he was pleased to say that his squad came out of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Colchester virtually unscathed, whilst defender Kyle Howkins was set to take part in a behind-closed-doors match with parent club West Bromwich Albion today. “There’s only Rhys Bennett who’s missing this morning who’s got a little strain from Saturday but he should be back in training on Thursday, so [there's] nothing too worrying about that. “The others who have been [out] like Darius (Henderson) who’s been missing and Mitchell (Rose) and people like that, are involved in this game behind us shortly. “We’re hoping when we come through today that everyone’s fit and well, that’s important for us.” Supporters can now view Steve Evans' news conference, in full, on Stags PlayerHD. ---------------------- Stags youth team get chance to impress new boss chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 13 December 2016 Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans pitched his youth team players into an inter-squad game against first teamers today to have a proper look at the depth of talent he has inherited. “The analysis has to go across all the playing staff,” he said just before they kicked off. “If I was a parent of one of those young 17/18-year-old kids, I’d want to be asking has Steve Evans looked at my boy? Has he seen him in action? “The one thing I did promise the chairman and chief executive when I came in was my analysis of the playing squad goes right across the whole remit. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-youth-team-get-chance-to-impress-new-boss-1-8288153 “We have seen them in training, but this is our first chance to see them in a little game. “We are also using it to get some minutes for the lads that have not had a lot of minutes in the first team recently. So it’s a wonderful opportunity for them.” Evans was hoping some of the youngsters would catch his eye and he said: “They know if I get a good performance here today or in training, there is a chance the management team might pull me across and ask me to train with the first team on a regular basis. “We have had different players that have been recommended and sent across by John (Dempster) and the staff. But there’s nothing better than looking for yourself. “There is a freshness in it. You might be a right back in the U18s and you might think there’s only the strikers or centre halves get sent across and do you get your chance? “Well here is an opportunity to be a shining light. And we won’t be shy. We’ve always said if they are good enough they are certainly old enough. “I am looking forward to seeing them. “They are a bright bunch. They have been giving me some stick about my scarf, my hat, my gloves, my brolly and everything! “That’s what you want to see. Young men who are full of the pride of being a footballer - now let’s see if they can play.” Stags gave much-needed minutes to players short on game time like Darius Henderson and Mitch Rose in the inter-squad game. “There is only Rhys Bennett missing this morning, who’s got a little strain from Saturday,” said Evans. “But he should be back in training on Thursday so there’s nothing too worrying about that.” ----------------- Evans backed Murray for his old Boston job chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 13 December 2016 As former Boston United boss Steve Evans settled into life at Mansfield Town, the world of football went full circle this week as ex-Stags manager Adam Murray took over the Boston United hot seat. And Evans revealed he had backed Murray for the job at York Street. “He sent me some nice words when I was given the job here,” said Evans. I think he was one that couldn’t believe I had come here, but I have and I have come for the right reasons. “I was asked a question by someone at Boston whether I thought Adam would do a job for them and I was happy to put my name behind him. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-backed-murray-for-his-old-boston-job-1-8288147 “He is not only a good person at this football club but he is someone I have said to openly and privately - come and have a coffee with us. “He is always welcome and I certainly wish that club and their supporters every success.” ----------------- Steve Evans on the scoreboard: "It would have been nice to see it work other than the clock on it. "But if you don't score goal, you don't only not win a game but you don't get the scoreboard to move other than the seconds countdown. "My objective for where the scoreboard is, is quite simple, it's to get promotion and get the chairman to build something over there. "Listen, I think it's the biggest scoreboard outside Wembley. But we'd like to see a few goals on it. "Particularly coming up to the festive period. We've two fantastic games at home." "There'd never been a better time for us to pop into that top group as we go into January, and then Santa Claus will come for the Mansfield fans when we sign a few in January." (transcribed by Martin) ----------------- Boss Evans excited by quality of Mansfield transfer targets chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans said he was excited by the quality of players he is hopeful of bringing into the club in the January window. Evans will meet with chairman John Radford and chief executive Carolyn Radford today (Wednesday) to lay out his plans ahead of Saturday’s trip to Exeter City. “We have had a wonderful response from players and their representatives and we are just trying to piece it together,” he said. “We are excited. There is no doubt that people, players and managers particularly, raised an eyebrow when I agreed to come here. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/boss-evans-excited-by-quality-of-mansfield-transfer-targets-1-8289427 “I made it particularly clear that it was because of the Radford family and the support and verbal assurances I was given at that time by the chairman and the chief executive. “They have told me to get on and run the football side of the club, to make my recommendations and come back with true values that I think we should be doing to make us a success in this league.” Evans added: “I will repeat to the fans that if someone is worth £20,000 for example, we are not going to be paying £40,000. “If someone is worth £500 a week, we are not going to be paying £600 a week. “I have to have value for money and I know that’s the way Mr Radford and Carolyn Radford deploy themselves across their businesses.” Names are being kept under wraps for now, and Evans said: “The one I would never do to the supporters is tell them it’s not happening, but obviously there are degrees of confidentiality about it. “Decisions are now being made on people - players and staff, positions in the team - and I am looking forward to a meeting with the chairman and chief executive tomorrow. “We will formalise more next week when we really get into the nuts and bolts of it, but some calls have been made, approaches have been made for players, and we are trying to ascertain whether they are loans or permanent transfers and if fees are involved. “We have done a lot of work and analysis. So thanks to Paul Raynor and to Sean (O’Callaghan) and the analysis department. “We are working so hard to make sure we get transfers right as a manager is only as good as his recruitment, and a lot of people play a part in that. “What we are trying to do is make sure whoever we bring in has the same application as that group in the dressing room. “I am looking to bring in three or four players. But they must be value for money. And they need to be starting or the chairman will ask why I am spending his money for players to be sitting on the bench. “We have two fantastic games at home over the Festive period. “A Boxing Day fixture is always special, particularly in front of your own supporters, then we have a ‘derby’ against Doncaster, who are right up there. “So there is never a better time for us to pop into that top group as we go into January, and then Santa Claus will come for the Mansfield fans when we sign a few.” ----------------- Howkins back with Stags next week chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Giant loanee centre half Kyle Howkins should be back in contention for the Stags after this weekend after recovering from a hamstring injury at parent club West Brom. And Baggies boss Tony Pulis has already told Mansfield manager Steve Evans how highly he rates the 20-year-old. “Kyle is not back yet,” said Evans. “They are playing him in a behind-closed-doors game at the end of this week which is the normal when you go back to your parent club as, subject to coming through that, he’s back with us. “He won’t be available for selection for us at Exeter but I certainly looking forward to seeing him in training next week and he will certainly be in contention for when Morecambe come here on Boxing Day.” Evans continued: Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/howkins-back-with-stags-next-week-1-8289819 “He is an incredibly fit boy and I don’t know which is tallest - him or my garage door. He is a nice young man as well, and that is important. “I am very good friends with Tony Pulis and Tony has lots of good things to say about the kid. “I’ve not seen much of him but, believe me, if Tony Pulis talks good things about a centre back, he is famous for signing some of the best. Although Howkins’ return is imminent, fellow centre halves George Taft and Corbin Shires are both recovering from operations and face a long haul back. “They are going to be long term. I know they exist and I have had a good chat with both,” said Evans. “Again, they are great lads, but they are such a long time away from playing, two and a half and three months respectively, sometimes as a manager you don’t get two and a half weeks. “We will pick those lads up and when the medical team say they are two or three weeks away we’ll really start to focus on them. “They have a fantastic approach and fantastic professionalism and are doing everything they can. “But sadly for them and for us it’s about time.” ------------------ Gray is new Stags chief scout chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town have announced Stuart Gray as their new chief scout. The experienced Gray has worked with Steve Evans and Paul Raynor before at Rotherham United and much respected by Stags’ new managerial duo. “There is possibly going to be more than one, but we have brought a gentleman called Stuart Gray in,” said Evans. “He’s not the one, of course, of Sheffield Wednesday fame, but he is a man who has worked with us for four or five years now and he was part of a team run by another, who was fantastic. “We are trying desperately hard to make sure we cover all areas for this football club. That is important to us.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/gray-is-new-stags-chief-scout-1-8289815 Evans added: “He has worked for many years with John Ward and the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cheltenham, and of course with Kenny Jackett, and he has been at Rotherham for four and a half years. “Despite the perils at the bottom of the Championship they have had nothing but success for three and a half of those years. He has played a massive part. “At the moment we are making little steps into making big steps.” --------------------- |
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