Welcome to the first edition of the Mansfield Musings Newsletter, which aims to bring you the weekly goings on from in and around Mansfield Town FC. The players have been hard at work for two and a half weeks now, so there’s plenty to catch up on. This week, we’ll take a look at how the squad is shaping up.
Christy Pym joins on a permanent deal
Goalkeeper Pym enjoyed a season on loan with The Stags in 2022/23 and has now put pen to paper on a permanent switch, which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2025. It was announced in the first week of pre-season that a deal in principle had been reached with Peterborough United, after a Summer of negotiation which was prolonged by Pym’s social media post referencing his former clubs play-off defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday. This has not affected the stoppers training however, having joined up with the rest of the Stags squad to resume training on the 3rd July. There are mixed opinions on Pym’s displays last term, however he made few glaring errors and manager Nigel Clough has spoken glowingly of Pym’s attributes whilst reiterating his desire for continuity in the goalkeeping department. He was Clough’s number one target for the number one shirt.
Versatile Aaron Lewis signs on the dotted line
Former Newport Count star Lewis was out of contract with the Welsh side, having notched up more than a century of appearances during his time in South Wales. Lewis looks adept with both feet, and can cover full back/wing back positions on either side as well as central midfield. He also boasts international experience at youth level with Wales. Whilst YouTube compilations (link below) should always be viewed with caution, Lewis looks to be a smart pick up. He is tough tackling, skilful, technical and mobile. He was within the top ten assist makers within League Two last season, registering a total of 7. He looks to be an upgrade on the departed Kieran Wallace, who has joined recently relegated Hartlepool. Like Pym, Lewis has also signed a deal until 2025, but with the option of a further year.
Aaron Lewis Compilation 2021-23
George Williams completes the defensive puzzle
Just hours before the staff and players boarded the coach set for their St Andrews training camp, Williams was confirmed by the club as the final piece of the jigsaw, signing a one year deal. Having left Cambridge United at the end of last season, the defender boasts over 250 career appearances, the vast majority of which have come at League One level. He has primarily played as a right full back, but favours a central defensive role and that looks set to be his berth when pulling on the new Castore manufactured amber (or is it yellow?) shirt. The new boy should have no trouble settling in, having played with six members of the first team squad at his previous clubs. The last time Stags fans saw Williams play live was as part of a back three for MK Dons on the final day of the 2018/19 season, with the Dons prevailing over Mansfield to seal a final day promotion at our expense. Williams is out to make amends for the anguish he inflicted on us that day.
Perch expected to stay on
Veteran defender James Perch remains intalks over a new deal for the 2023/24 season. With the squad having been bolstered defensively following the signings of Aaron Lewis, Baily Cargill, Calum MacDonald and George Williams, Perch’s role is likely to be a reduced one on the playing side, combined with youth team coaching duties if they can be ironed out with head of Academy Richard Cooper. When interviewed at the end of last season, Perch seemed keen to carry on playing football for as long as he could, which may be why talks over a new deal have seemingly dragged on. He will provide back up across the back line along with John Joe O’Toole.
Squad Complete?
With the addition of Williams, it appears the squad was complete with 19 days to go until the first league game away at Crewe. Four new faces have arrived in Cargill, Lewis, Macdonald and Williams, whilst Pym and Swan have returned on a permanent basis. George Cooper and Stephen Quinn signed new deals, whilst James Perch looks set to do so. Four players left the club and found new homes, those being Danny Johnson (Walsall), Jason Law (Scunthorpe United), Jimmy Knowles (Boston United) and Kieran Wallace (Hartlepool United). Last terms loanee Riley Harbottle has joined Hibernian on a three year deal. Young goalkeeper Owen Mason has joined Wexford in the second tier of Irish football on loan until mid November, and has already made his debut, keeping a clean sheet. He will not be eligible to play for Mansfield or anyone else until January. Nigel Clough is not expecting to do any further business, unless of course players move on or something unforeseen such as a long term injury occurs. With no spots taken up by loanees, the temporary market could be the one that is explored should it be necessary to strengthen.
A summer well spent?
The focus of the summer business has been to strengthen the Stags defensively, which was certainly required based on last seasons numbers, and even more so taking into account injuries to Elliott Hewitt (out until 2024) and Stephen McLaughlin (out until September). First through the door was Baily Cargill, who has been promoted from League Two with his last two clubs, MK Dons and Forest Green Rovers, playing 29 and 36 games along the way. He possesses the much sought after quality of being left footed, and is comfortable playing out from the back. There are perhaps some doubts over his injury history, but Cargill is nailed on to be starting the first game of the season all being well. Calum MacDonald was the second addition, and another left footer. The former Derby County youth is a solid left back who can look to make the position his own in the early weeks of the season in the absence of McLaughlin. He has performed admirably at this level previously with Tranmere, and has the desire to get back on track following an unsettled period of his career. Aaron Lewis, as discussed above, will provide an option at full back on both sides, and an energetic alternative in the centre of the park. George Williams provides cover across the back line in a similar way that Perch has over the last few seasons. He also gives Clough the option of playing with a back three, having excelled as a right sided centre back in the past. Having assessed the new recruits, and the prospect of a first full season for both the colossal Alfie Kilgour and smooth full back Callum Johnson, The Stags defensive frailties should be a thing of the past if individual ability was the root cause.
The midfield unit has been kept together and is full of quality, with Lewis stepping in to provide the cover previously supplied by Wallace. Maris, Reed and Hartigan provide playmaking capabilities in deep areas, with Maris also being able to operate higher up the pitch in a box to box role if necessary. Club captain Ollie Clarke weighs in with the combative streak every midfield needs, as does Stephen Quinn who can, on occasion, overstep the mark! Nevertheless, it’s fantastic to see Quinn giving it another year, still capable of delivering quality moments. Hiram Boateng brings ball carrying ability and will hopefully head into the season in the same manner than he finished the last campaign. Davis Keillor-Dunn is a player that excites. He can operate out wide, behind the strikers or on the last man. He picks up clever positions and is not scared to shoot from range. In an ideal world it would be nice to have another player of his type to compliment the squad.
In attack, securing Will Swan on a permanent deal could prove a shrewd move. Despite niggling injury issues throughout the campaign, the former Forest man notched 10 goals in 28 appearances. His goals per minute ratio was amongst the best in the division. His social media has been littered with his efforts to get fit during the off season, and it is paying off as he looks super sharp in pre-season. He is complemented by the powerful Lucas Akins, and a fully fit Rhys Oates who will be looking to make up for lost time after an intermittent season. The emergence of James Gale as a first team squad member is also a pleasant surprise, he is a young man who can shoot with both feet, is tall and energetic and looks set to be a thorn in the side of League Two defenders. Jordan Bowery we know will turn out in any position the manager sees fit.
The main objective of pre-season will be to get the players through it unscathed. James Perch and Ollie Clarke were absent from the 8-0 win at Retford and the 4-0 win at Alfreton as a precaution due to knocks picked up in training. They were joined on the sideline by Alfie Kilgour, George Williams and Will Swan for the 8-0 win over Airdrieonians, although their absence from the game has not yet been explained.
Thank you!
Thank you to all of those that have subscribed so far. This weekly newsletter will aim to bring you all the latest goings on associated with Mansfield Town throughout the season, and will likely take many different forms. I’d love to hear any feedback, good or bad, about the accessibility of the newsletter, and also any features you’d like to see. I would also appreciate if you could spread the word about Mansfield Musings as much as possible. It will be ideal for anyone who finds the Chad website too much of a faff and wants the news directly to their inbox/mobile app, or cannot afford the iFollow subscription in the current climate.
A superb read. Dare I say it, I feel mildly optimistic about 2023/24...
A good start and a good read.
Strongest squad for many years.
Well done and thanks.