NOTTS COUNTY: Jon Stead wants Magpies to put '˜difficult' week behind them

Magpies' striker Jon Stead believes the best way the club can get over another turbulent week is to achieve victory on Saturday.

County welcome Bristol Rovers to Meadow Lane after a week that has seen chief executive Julian Winter quit the club and the team stretch their winless run to four games.

Coupled with a public fall-out between the club and player Stanley Aborah, and it has almost gone unnoticed that Jamie Fullarton and his team are preparing for Rovers’ visit.

Ahead of the clash with the promotion-chasing Pirates, Stead says the players have a chance to make headlines for all the positive reasons.

Notts County v Mansfield Town
English League Football - Sky Bet League Two
Meadow Lane Stadium, Nottingham, England.
14th August 2015

Mansfield Town's Ryan Tafazolli heads clear from Notts County's Jon Stead.

Picture by Dan WestwellNotts County v Mansfield Town
English League Football - Sky Bet League Two
Meadow Lane Stadium, Nottingham, England.
14th August 2015

Mansfield Town's Ryan Tafazolli heads clear from Notts County's Jon Stead.

Picture by Dan Westwell
Notts County v Mansfield Town English League Football - Sky Bet League Two Meadow Lane Stadium, Nottingham, England. 14th August 2015 Mansfield Town's Ryan Tafazolli heads clear from Notts County's Jon Stead. Picture by Dan Westwell

“It’s been difficult but things go on at football clubs all the time and most of them are kept out of the press,” he said.

“But sometimes it spills over and it’s been difficult.

“It’s an old cliche but you can only control what you can control.

“As players you go out there and try to do your best.

Notts County v Mansfield Town
English League Football - Sky Bet League Two
Meadow Lane Stadium, Nottingham, England.
14th August 2015

Mansfield Town's Ryan Tafazolli heads clear from Notts County's Jon Stead.

Picture by Dan WestwellNotts County v Mansfield Town
English League Football - Sky Bet League Two
Meadow Lane Stadium, Nottingham, England.
14th August 2015

Mansfield Town's Ryan Tafazolli heads clear from Notts County's Jon Stead.

Picture by Dan Westwell
Notts County v Mansfield Town English League Football - Sky Bet League Two Meadow Lane Stadium, Nottingham, England. 14th August 2015 Mansfield Town's Ryan Tafazolli heads clear from Notts County's Jon Stead. Picture by Dan Westwell

“It has been a testing time but you have to rise above it.

“It’s certainly not what I envisaged happening when I signed for the club.

“There was a clear direction going forward, but circumstances changed.

“It’s been difficult, but I am not going to throw any excuses at it.

“What matters are results and performances.”