Football Season Guide

Mansfield Town

In


Jamie Tolley (mid), Wrexham), Chris Clements (mid), Hednesford), Luke Jones (def), Kidderminster), Nick Wright (att), Kidderminster), Godfrey Poku (mid), Luton), George Pilkington (def), Luton), Lee Beevers (def), Walsall), Andy Owens (def), Southport), Jake Speight (att), Wrexham), John Dempster (def), Crawley), Jamie Hand (mid), Hayes & Yeading)

Out


Matt Bell (def), Joe Kendrick (def), Danny Mitchley (att), Altrincham), Jon Worthington (FC Halifax), Adam Smith (mid), Lincoln), Luke O'Neill (def), Burnley), Martin Riley (def), Wrexham)

Mansfield start the season as one of the main challengers for promotion and indeed it looks like Paul Cox is building a very good team at this level. The manager took some time to get going in his first season with the Stags but they were superb in the second half of the season and only an agonising extra-time defeat in the play-off clash against York ended their promotion dream. Cox rebuffed the attractions of Burton Albion to stay with Mansfield, signing a new deal, and it looks like he is more determined this season to put the team in the race for the title. The club bought impressively over the summer with George Pilkington, Jamie Tolley, Andy Owens and Luke Jones all joining in from major rivals in the league. Cox now has a versatile squad that definitely possess the quality to be up there with the best. The only significant departure was that of Luke O'Neill who joined Burnley on the back of a sensational season but former Walsall defender Lee Beevers is a good replacement. Matt Green is staying put having scored 30-odd goals last season and the only slight worry for Cox must be the lack of real partner for Green up front. However, Adam Murray, Anthony Howell and Gary Roberts comprise a very capable midfield and Mansfield are not likely to concede too many goals. On the basis of all that and the momentum generated in the spring, the Stags may well be the most adequate of title challengers for the forthcoming season.

Target


The title is a feasible target and Cox may well achieve it on the basis of last season