Archived News from July 2018
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ALEX MACDONALD SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION
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MacDonald signs new deal
mansfieldtown.net, Wednesday 20 June 2018 Mansfield Town are delighted to confirm that midfielder Alex MacDonald has signed a new deal at One Call Stadium. The ex-Oxford United player made 46 appearances for us last term during an impressive campaign for the 28-year-old. Manager David Flitcroft told http://www.mansfieldtown.net: “I’m absolutely buzzing that we have tied up Macca (Alex MacDonald) for another two years. “He has a natural energy and enthusiasm for playing football and loves playing on the front foot. “He is a player who always commits wholeheartedly and is the heart beat on the training ground. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/june/macca-contract-extension/ “Macca and his family have really settled in the area and even though the negotiations have been going on for a few weeks it was important that we secured him. “When a player’s family are settled you get a player that is also settled and that was important. “We have a very important relationship and he certainly knows what I think of him as a player and person. “Macca will benefit from the new training ground and our intense training programme which I saw the benefits of towards the last four games of the season.” ----------------- Macca ‘desperate’ to help Stags succeed mansfieldtown.net, Wednesday 20 June 2018 Midfielder Alex MacDonald says he is ‘desperate’ to help the club fulfil its ambitions after the 28-year-old signed a new two year contract earlier today. The instrumental ex Oxford United player appeared 46 times for us last season in a term which saw Stags narrowly miss out on a top seven finish. The amber and blue are again amongst the favourites to be in the coveted top positions in Sky Bet League Two next season by the bookmakers, though owners John & Carolyn Radford had stated their intention for the club to appear as a dark horse as opposed to a front runner. And after signing his new deal, a beaming MacDonald told http://www.mansfieldtown.net of his enthusiasm for Stags’ success next term. “It’s no secret that I’ve taken this club to my heart and a club which I really enjoy playing for,” said MacDonald. “Negotiations have been going on for a long period of time and I’m happy to get this over the line. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/june/macca-wants-success-with-stags/ “Obviously last season didn’t end in the way which we’d all like but we’re ready and raring to go for next season now. “There is a real ambition about this club and I’m desperate to help the club get to where it wants to go. “I love living in the area. I have really settled here and me and my family are really happy.” Looking ahead to next season, he said: “Personally I want more of the same. I was happy with my level of performances for large spells of the season. “I had a little sticky spell when the manager came in, but he’s stuck by me and I want to repay the faith he’s shown in me with good performances and hopefully a lot of wins next season.” Manager David Flitcroft’s squad will return for pre-season this coming Monday. When asked his schedule before then, he said: “I’ll be looking to get more running done. I’ll enjoy some down-time before another hard nine months of training and games. I’m desperate to get back in and train.” ----------------------- I love Mansfield and always wanted to stay - MacDonald chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Wednesday 20 June 2018 Despite interest from other clubs, Mansfield Town midfielder Alex MacDonald said he had always wanted to stay at the One Call Stadium after today signing a new two-year deal. MacDonald admitted his form dipped when manager Steve Evans quit with 12 games to go last season, but replacement boss David Flitcroft stuck by him and now he wants to repay that faith with another promotion push. Negotiations have been going on for several weeks, but the former Oxford United man said: “It was always my intention to sign. It’s been no secret I’ve taken this club to my heart. “It’s a club I am really enjoying playing for. I am delighted. “There was definitely interest from elsewhere, but there was nothing that turned my head. I was always definitely wanting to stay here and get this contract sorted and over the line. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/i-love-mansfield-and-always-wanted-to-stay-macdonald-1-9215133 “It’s been done and now we can forget about all that - and taking phone calls from my agent every day. My sole focus now is on being successful at Mansfield Town. “It’s been a long time coming. Negotiations have been going on for a long time now, so I was happy to get it over the line. It’s a great club and I am really enjoy playing for it. It’s an exciting time.” Although missing out on the play-offs at the death last season, the club’s lofty ambitions have ensured MacDonald wanted to stay part of it as well as his and his family’s love of the area. “Obviously the end of last season didn’t go how we wanted it to,” he said. “But we are up and ready and we are raring to go again. Hopefully we can enjoy a good pre-season and really crack on this year. “There has been no secret about the ambition of this club over the last 18 months since I’ve been here and I am desperate to get the club where we all want it to go. You take all these factors into consideration. “I’ve loved living in the area. We have settled here and me and my family are really happy. It ticks all the boxes for me. “The fixtures are coming out which is when it all starts to get real - and we are back in from Monday. “We want to get a good pre-season under our belts and hopefully kick on.” On his own form last season, he added: “Personally I want more of the same really. “I was happy with my level of performances for the large part of the season. “I had a little sticky spell when the new manager came in, but he stuck by me and wanted me to stay. “I am looking forward to repaying the faith he’s shown in me - hopefully by giving a lot of good performances and a lot of wins next season. “Also, all of us playing in the midfield want to try to chip in with as many goals as we possibly can - and I will be no different next year.” A utility player who can play wide or central midfield or in the hole, MacDonald said he had no positional preference or any opinion on where the side needed bolstering. “As long as I am on the pitch and part of it I am happy,” he said. “We have got good players in all positions, so it’s not for me to say where should strengthen. We have a strong squad as it is and I am delighted to be part of it.” MacDonald believes the sky is the limit for Stags next season, but won’t be making any rash predictions. “I don’t think there is any limit as to where we could finish,” he said. “Maybe we could win the league? But we are not going to come out shouting about being this, that or the other. “We are going to do our jobs, train hard every day, and hopefully all the work we do on the training ground will result in a lot more wins.” Mansfield Town return to pre-season training on Monday and MacDonald can’t wait to get stuck in. He said: “Before Monday I just want to get a little bit more running done, a bit more work done, and enjoy a bit of down time. It’s going to be another long, hard nine months of training and playing games. “This year was a little bit more about rest for me than really trying to get into shape like I had to do previous years. I’ve had a lot more rest this time and now I am desperate to get back in and start training again. “But we have had to come in over the summer doing a certain amount of sessions and certain players have had to do more than others. “Every manager has their different views on what they want to do and everyone has been in and done their bits.” --------------------------- John Radford on facebook Pleased to have Macca re-signed. After a very good season last year, I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do next term. ------------------ |
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