No hype this time as Stags continue '˜softly, softly' approach to new season

Mansfield Town's '˜softly, softly' approach to the new season continues nine days ahead of the new campaign.
Carolyn Radford CEO of Mansfield Town Football Club pictured at Home and at Field Mill the home of Mansfield Town FC
Pictures by Paul Currie/PinPep MediaCarolyn Radford CEO of Mansfield Town Football Club pictured at Home and at Field Mill the home of Mansfield Town FC
Pictures by Paul Currie/PinPep Media
Carolyn Radford CEO of Mansfield Town Football Club pictured at Home and at Field Mill the home of Mansfield Town FC Pictures by Paul Currie/PinPep Media

After all the hype of last summer when Stags were title favourites, owner John Radford and CEO Carolyn Radford promised more humility and respect for other clubs this coming to the new season.

Already David Flitcroft’s new-look squad is impressing but no one is shouting about titles this time around.

“We want to improve on last season’s league position,” said Carolyn.

“Heading into a new campaign, our desire is to do better than the previous season and that will never change. Football is all about making progress and we are doing that as a football club.

“Our final league standing last season saw us narrowly miss out on a coveted top-seven finish and that suggested that our squad needed minor enhancements, with a shot-in-the-arm as opposed to an overall transfusion.

“We are pleased with the signings we’ve made and though a league ball has not yet been kicked we are confident that we have added the quality necessary to help fulfil our ambitions.

“Under our ownership, we will always be ambitious and competitive. We will never go into a season to tread water or make-up the numbers. We want success and the disappointment of last season has made that thirst to do better even greater.”

She added: “We have a manager who has achieved promotion from this league before.

“He knows what it takes to put together a winning formula and this season represents a fresh start for David.

“He will have our support, across the club and in the stands. We all want the same thing- success for Mansfield Town – and that can only achieve it with a one-club, one-cause mentality.”

On the fine form seen so far in friendlies, she said: “Pre-season has been encouraging.

“You can never measure accurately how well a squad will perform in the league just by watching pre-season performances and results.

“But what we have seen is promising, particularly in our home games against Championship opposition.

“We know that the true challenges are in the league and when it comes we will be ready to compete.

“When I speak to the players and staff it is clear that the one-week trip to Portugal was really beneficial.

“Players bonded, professionally and personally in that week and in any line of work it’s important to form good relationships with colleagues and in this case, team-mates.

“The Portugal trip was well-designed by our manager and his staff. He is someone who is detailed in his work, methodical and genuinely cares about the club and his players.”