Stags boss Evans setting the standards on wanted list

Although concentrating fully on the play-off race, Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans is building a wanted list for next season '“ with the players on it top end League One standard as a minimum.
Mansfield Town's Manager Steve Evans with his assistant Paul Raynor - Photo by Chris HollowayMansfield Town's Manager Steve Evans with his assistant Paul Raynor - Photo by Chris Holloway
Mansfield Town's Manager Steve Evans with his assistant Paul Raynor - Photo by Chris Holloway

“I think about it every day, but it doesn’t mean you do anything,” he said.

“You are adding people in every day as you go round watching lots of games.

“We are just keeping focused. A lot will depend on what level we are at, League Two or One.

“So things might slightly change, though not massively as, if you have to get out of League Two you have to sign top end League One or Championship players – that’s the strategy.

“If you want to get out of League One you have to sign Championship players. You’re never going to get the Premier League boys.

“If you look at the success Sheffield United have had this year, what has Chris Wilder done? He has just signed hard-working, honest lads who have a successful track record in League One.”

But, as far as his talented loan players are concerned, he stressed he can do nothing about next season until he knows their futures in the summer.

“I couldn’t care about it,” he said. “They’ve come here and signed until the end of the season.

“Each of the loan players, particularly Shaq (Coulthirst), Hayden (White) and young Ben (Whiteman) have been absolutely terrific for us.

“We will think about that at the end of the season.

“We have to let them at the end of the season go and talk to their respective managers and permanent clubs and see where their future lies.

“We are the last party to get involved in that. Of course we’d like to bring them here, but by the same token, we understand that the likes of Peterborough United and Sheffield United have to sit down with those boys and make some decisions.”