Football Season Guide

National League
England
National League
2011/2012
Mansfield Town
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Mansfield Town

In


Lee Stevenson (sp)(att), Eastwood), Lindon Melkie (sp)(mid), Eastwood), Paul Bolland (r)(mid), Macclesfield), Matt Bell (sp)(def), Port Vale), Anthony Howell (sp)(mid), Alfreton), Ross Dyer (r)(att), Forest Green), Joe Worthington (r)(mid), Oldham), Andy Todd (sp)(mid), Eastwood), Richie Sutton (r)(def), Port Vale), Luke O'Neill (sp)(def), Leicester), Shane Redmond (sp)(gk), Chesterfield), Martin Riley (r)(def), Cheltenham), John Thompson (r)(def), Notts County), Matt Green (r)(att), Oxford - loan), Joe Kendrick (r)(def), Bray Wanderers)

Out


Gary Silk (r)(def), Grimsby), Mark Preece (sp)(def), Paul Stonehouse (sp)(def), Bath City), Kevin Sandwith (r)(def), Steve Foster (r)(def), Kyle Nix (r)(mid), Gateshead), Ashley Cain (sp)(mid), Tamworth), Luke Medley (sp)(att), Kidderminster), Steve Istead (sp)(mid), Eastwood), Tyrone Thompson (sp)(mid), Connor Higginson (sp)(att)

Mansfield will stage another attempt to move close to promotion and have a real go for a first time since dropping down from League Two three years ago. It has been a tale of mediocrity and disappointment ever since as the Stags have failed to catch up with the opposition and keep changing and chopping managers. The new man to try and do the job is former Eastwood boss Paul Cox who impressed the board by leading the modest club into a fifth place in Blue Square North last season. The expectations will be much higher for Cox this time around and he will definitely face a stiffer challenge but will definitely want the chance to test himself against stronger opposition. Chairman John Radcliffe has not really fallen on his promise to bankroll a spending spree like the one at Crawley last season and most of the signings have been modest, some of them supported by the fans' trust. Nevertheless, Cox has bought well and players like John Thompson and Martin Riley are bound to improve a defence that looked terribly leaky for the most of last season. The manager has also gone back to his former club to sign Lindon Melkie and Lee Stevenson and will hope that they rise to the challenge. The team seems to be lacking in the attacking department though with only Paul Connor remaining as a true number nine. Ross Dyer, Matt Green and Louis Briscoe could support him well though and if they strike a good balance, one should not discount the Stags from a possible tilt at the play-offs. Moreover, the freshness brought by a new manager will surely boost the spirits as well. Realistically, the quality and depth of the squad are not up to the requirements and a place in mid-table seems the most probable finish.

Target


Making the play-offs or at least coming close is vital in order to signify some sort of progress but breaking into the top five will be extremely challenging. Instead, top-ten finish looks most likely.