Archived News from June 2007
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STAGS SIGN JOHN McALISKEY AND DAN MARTIN
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MARTIN: 'IT IS NICE TO FEEL WANTED'
Evening Post, 12 June 2007 Mansfield new boy Dan Martin today took a swipe at former club Notts County by saying: "It's nice to feel wanted." The 20-year-old left-sided player signed for the Stags last week after being released by the Magpies at the end of the season. Martin felt he was harshly treated in his latter days at Meadow Lane and admits he was relieved to leave the Magpies in the end. And he insists Billy Dearden's pursuit of his signature was the decisive factor in him signing for Mansfield. "It did come as a bit of a surprise I didn't get another year at Notts and it was initially a disappointment, but now I'm glad," said Martin. "Towards the end of last season I was being left out of the team when I didn't feel I had done anything wrong and it got a bit frustrating. "But I have got a new start now with a manager I know who wants me - and that's a good feeling. "Billy has already told me about the Mansfield side and I know they have got lots of young lads who like to play football, which is what I like." Even though he was not always first choice under Steve Thompson at Notts, Derby-born Martin feels he acquitted himself well when given a chance. He said: "I feel I have nothing to prove to Notts because, when I played, I felt I was one of their best players. "I scored goals and set them up and I think it was just my age that was the problem. Steve Thompson didn't seem to like playing the younger players. "I know Billy puts a lot of faith in his young lads - with him, if you're good enough, you're old enough." DEARDEN ON DUO mansfieldtown.net, 12 June 2007 Bill Dearden tells us why he signed midfielder Dan Martin and forward John McAliskey. The Stags chief brought the two new recruits in on Thursday.. On ex Notts County utility man Dan martin, Dearden said: "I've seen him play two-three times, and when I've seen him play I like what I've seen. "He's a left sided player and we've only really got one more left sided player iin the club, in Gareth Jellyman. Apart from Sleathy, (Danny Sleath) who's just become a young professional now.But Dan will give us more balance on the left hand side." Dearden revealed former Huddersfield striker John mcAliskey had been a target of his for some time: "I've watched Big John a few times in the last year.He went down the pecking order at Huddersfield Town and lost his way along the line, but he was behind two quality strikers in Boothy and Beckett.He's a big lad, who has a good touch.He needs to come here and show his potential, potential which wasn't shown at Huddersfield." Dearden added: "They'll both be a tremendous asset to the club.They are both young lads and if we can get a bit of experience in elsewhere we wont be too bad." DEARDEN PLEDGE ON NEW BOYS Evening Post,08 June 2007 Billy Dearden today vowed to bring the best out of new signings John McAliskey and Dan Martin at Mansfield. The Stags boss is relieved to have wrapped up his first two deals of the summer after a frustrating couple of weeks. Striker McAliskey, 22, joins after being released by hometown club Huddersfield. Left-sided player Martin, 20, was shown the door by Steve Thompson at Notts County. "They have to prove to me and the clubs they have been with they can play good football," said Dearden. "They are two young lads who probably, for whatever reason, did not live up to expectations at their previous clubs. "I just hope I can get the best out of them because there is definitely, definitely more to come from both." At 6ft 4ins, McAliskey was a trainee at Huddersfield and broke onto the scene following Jon Stead's move to Blackburn. But he fell down the pecking order at the Galpharm Stadium behind the likes of Andy Booth, Luke Beckett, Pawel Abbott and Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Dearden said: "John has lost his way a little bit at Huddersfield," he said. "I think he will be a good asset for us and I think he can score goals - he just needs a run in a team." The decision to release Derby-born Martin raised eyebrows among Notts fans "I have seen Dan play for Notts two or three times and when I have seen him he has done well," said Dearden. "He can play anywhere down the left - at left-back or left midfield of central midfield." IN DEPTH WITH DAN MARTIN mansfieldtown.net New signing Dan Martin has told mansfieldtown.net that he shrugged off interest from Chesterfield and a contract offer from Burton Albion to join Bill Dearden at Field Mill. The 20 year old utility man was released by Notts County some weeks ago, and admits he wasn't really part Notts' boss Steve Thompson's plans at Meadow Lane: "I played a lot of more games under Gudjon Thordarson, who signed me for Notts from Derby County, but when Steve Thompson came in as manager he brought his own players in. "When Gudjon was the boss at Meadow Lane he told me I got pushed off the ball too much, so in the summer I worked on my strength, and used the weights in the gym and that sort of thing.I took his advice on board and it helped me. "Personally I thought he (Steve Thompson) didn't have enough trust in the younger players, but every time I played I did well. "We (Steve and I) didn't really see eye to eye, but I don't really want to go in to it. He had a different style of football to me and that's about it really. "I was unlucky with injuries at Notts. I came in to the team and then broke my ribs at Christmas away at Rochdale so I suppose being out of the side was my fault in a way due to injuries and a lack of form. "But my fitness has always been alright. When I was out for six weeks I was bound to struggle to find a place back in the side. "Every time I played I did score a lot of goals and claimed a lot of Man of the Match awards.When I do play I feel confident I can do a job," said Martin Martin's ratio in the last campaign with Notts was a good one, bagging 5 goals from 12 starts at Meadow Lane last season.And the youngster believes he'll be a great acquisition to the squad. Martin told us how the move to Mansfield came about: "Billy phoned me up last Thursday.He told me the lads are a good bunch who stick together and all work hard, and that's what I like to hear. "I live in Derby and thought 'why not?' It gives me the chance to stay in the Football League. It's a good club really and that was the main reason I came. "Burton Albion offered me a contract and I spoke to Chesterfield also.But as soon as I spoke to Bill, Mansfield was the only club for me.I liked what Billy had to say and I knew after speaking with him that Mansfield was the place where I wanted to be next season. "I've played here (at Field Mill) on a couple of occasions and it seems like they have a good bunch of fans and good ground." Martin has signed for the club on a one year deal along with ex-Huddersfield defender John McAliskey. as a good one, bagging 5 goals from 12 starts at Meadow Lane last season.And the youngster believes he'll be a great acquisition to the squad. Martin told us how the move to Mansfield came about: "Billy phoned me up last Thursday.He told me the lads are a good bunch who stick together and all work hard, and that's what I like to hear. "I live in Derby and thought 'why not?' It gives me the chance to stay in the Football League.It's a good club really and that was the main reason I came. "Burton Albion offered me a contract and I spoke to Chesterfield also. But as soon as I spoke to Bill, Mansfield was the only club for me.I liked what Billy had to say and I knew after speaking with him that Mansfield was the place where I wanted to be next season. "I've played here (at Field Mill) on a couple of occasions and it seems like they have a good bunch of fans and good ground." Martin has signed for the club on a one year deal along with ex-Huddersfield striker John McAliskey. Dearden unveils new signings CHAD website, 07 June 2007 by John Lomas STAGS boss Billy Dearden was all smiles at last today after making two new signings. Huddersfield Town's 6ft 3ins striker John McAliskey (22) and promising Notts County youngster Dan Martin, a left footed player who operate in midfield or defence, have both signed one-year deals for the Stags. And Dearden was given another major boost when left back Gareth Jelleyman agreed a new deal to return, despite being forced to take a drop in wages. Dearden and Stags fans have been frustrated in recent weeks as they waited for new faces to arrive. But Dearden's patience paid off today when he revealed his first two successes. McAliskey was once seen as 'the new Jon Stead' at Huddersfield while many Notts County fans were angry about the release of Martin this summer. McAliskey started out well but when his early promise faded he found himself sent out to Torquay United in 2005/06 and Wrexham last season on month loans to get him some match action. "I am delighted they have both agreed to come here," said Dearden. "They are two young lads who, for whatever reason, have not lived up to expectations at their previous club. "I am hoping to get the best out of them because there is definitely more to come from both of them. "I have told them this is an opportunity for them to get their career going. We are only a young side but these two have had a little bit of experience at League level." He added: "Dan Martin is naturally left footed and we had no cover for the left hand side apart from Gareth Jelleyman. "Dan can play anywhere down the left or in midfield. "Whenever I have seen him play for Notts he has always impressed me and I am looking forward to working with him. After being released he certainly has a point to prove. "I have been chasing him for two or three weeks. There were one or two other clubs interested in him but he has chosen to come here. "I have been after John McAliskey since the end of last season. I went to watch him at Huddersfield on the last day of the season but he was substitute and only came on near the end! "He is a decent player but had lost his way at Huddersfield being behind players like Andy Booth, Luke Beckett, Pawel Abbott and Gary Taylor-Fletcher. "He is the right age and has played a few games at a higher level. Huddersfield have obviously decided they have enough cover up front and released him - and I am very pleased they did. "He can score goals but, at his age, he needs a good run in a team. But he can't come down to this level and expect it to be easy. He has got to work hard and prove his point to me and the club that let him go." Another coup for Dearden is the return of Jelleyman. "Gareth has agreed to come back on a smaller basic wage which, in this day and age, is superb," he said. "It shows his commitment to this club. "That's the sort of lad he is - he just wants to play football. "He was probably one of my top three players since I came back to this club and I am very pleased he has signed. "His signing is as important as the other two I've made this week." Jason White and Chris Wood are the latest squad members to agree to new one-year deals for next season. STAGS SNAP UP TWO SIGNINGS Evening Post, 07 June 2007 MANSFIELD Town boss Billy Dearden has made his first two signings of the summer. Huddersfield Town?s 22-year-old striker John McAliskey and former Notts County left-sided defender/midfielder Dan Martin have agreed to join the Stags. Both have agreed one-year deals at Field Mill. Martin made 32 appearances at Meadow Lane last season and his release came as a surprise to many. Meanwhile, four Mansfield Town supporters' groups have united together for the first time to demand changes at Field Mill. After a 2006-2007 season they describe as an 'abject failure', Stags Fans For Change, the Stags Supporters Association (SSA), the committee of Ollerton Stags Supporters Club, and TEAM Mansfield have released a joint statement. In it, they call for a 'change of ownership and direction' if the club are to avoid dropping out of the Football League. Among their concerns are a lack of ambition, a high staff turnover and issues over safety on matchdays that recently saw the capacity of Field Mill cut by half after problems at the final home game of last season against Barnet. They have called for current owner Keith Haslam to 'actively seek' to sell the club and make financial documents for prospective buyers to view. The groups are also keen for a realistic asking price for the club to be made public. "For the second season running we were in danger of relegation to non-league football due to a severe lack of investment, continuity and management of the club," read the statement. "If change does not take place we will, as has happened with York, Exeter, Southport, Torquay and Oxford, fall out of the Football League. "There's no reason why MTFC cannot match the success enjoyed by clubs like Colchester and Scunthorpe if the club is run in the right way." Stags' chairman James Derry revealed in yesterday's Evening Post the club is in negotiations with two prospective new buyers and is confident a deal will go through before the new season. The club also held a meeting on Tuesday with Notts' Safety Advisory Group (SAG). The SAG have said they are encouraged by Mansfield's choice of new safety officer, Les Norman. They will monitor the safety at Mansfield's pre-season games before deciding if the capacity can be raised. The current, reduced capacity is just 4,684. The Football League minimum requirement is 5,000. |
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