by Martin Shaw » Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:08 pm
Coughlan told Jake Brigstock of Notts TV (video available on iFollow Stags):
"Willem let himself down on a number of occasions, only once, I might add, with myself.
"He's obviously a player I liked and it did hurt me. I put my arm around him when I came through the door.
"That doesn't mean he's a bad player, because we let him go. He's a good player, he just needs to sort himself out.
"I felt he broke my trust. I felt he let himself, the changing room, and the football club down."
"I can't mess about with shenanigans and stupidity like that. The players are role models, they have a duty of care, they have roles and responsibilities.
"I just didn't feel it was harmonious for the changing room to bring Willem back in.
"It's not nice when you have to sit down with a 21 year old kid and go through his misdemeanours and try to get him on the straight and narrow.
"I failed. I didn't get him on the straight and narrow and that hurt me.
"His actions were well beyond what's expected of a Mansfield Town footballer.
"We wish him all the best and thank him for his efforts. We hope he's learned and goes on and re-patches his career.
"It's an unfortunate incident but I hope young footballers should learn from it."
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"Four points clear as Lincoln are McCaffreyised", CHAD headline, April 1975