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Archived News from April 2006

BUXTON SIGNS NEW CONTRACT
25th April 2006 15:53


BUXTON: 'GOOD TO FEEL WANTED'
Evening Post, 25 April 2006
MATT HALFPENNY

Jake Buxton admits he finally feels wanted after signing a new contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2008.

Local lad Buxton, 21, has had his best season to date in a Mansfield shirt, going from fringe player to first-team regular.

The right-back feels that the attitude of his manager has been a major factor in bringing that transition about and the subsequent offer of a new deal.

"I feel I am a big part of Peter Shirtliff's plans - that is a good feeling to have," said Buxton.

"All a player wants is to feel he belongs at a club and he has made me feel very welcome.

"Peter wants to see his young players come through under him and he's been excellent to me.

"I think Peter is an excellent coach and he knows how to man-manage his players.

"If you mess up he pulls you aside and tells you where you are going wrong instead of shouting at you in front of everyone else. It hasn't always been like that."

Buxton was one of a number of players - including Simon Brown, Giles Coke, Kevin Pressman, Gus Uhlenbeek and Rhys Day - whose contract runs out this summer.

He is delighted to remove the element of doubt over his future sooner rather than later, especially in the current climate where hundreds of players are released.

He said: "I was offered the new contract at the same time as Giles Coke but, whereas he rejected it, I was happy to get on and sign mine.

"To me I feel I have had an all-right season and I have enjoyed every part of it. I feel I have improved and it's good to get this reward

"I'm happy to get things sorted early because you never want things hanging over you and with the extra two years it also gives me that added security.

"I think there are times when I could have done better and I have made some mistakes - as everyone does.

"But now I have realised that I have to be more dedicated than I have been in years gone by when I wasn't in the team and I felt sorry for myself."

Buxton went to see a specialist at King's Mill Hospital yesterday about the injury to his foot that saw him miss Saturday's 1-1 draw with Carlisle.

It was first feared that he had broken his foot but an X-ray revealed he has chipped a fragment of bone off his big toe.

"I am still hopeful that I can play again this season, but it depends on what the physio thinks," said Buxton.

"It hurt my heel after the game and that's where most of the bruising came out but it has settled down a lot now.

"It may be that I can play with a pain killing injection or I may have to rest it now if it's not worth risking until the end of the season."

 

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