Spotlight on next season's opponents continues with the Stags
A look at next season's opponents continues with Mansfield Town
Who’s in charge?
At 33, Adam Murray is the youngest manager in the Football League, having taken over last December. Murray started his career in the Premier League with Derby County and made over 50 appearances for the Rams. Subsequently he had a nomadic career in the lower leagues including two spells with the Stags, whom he re-joined in 2011. Other ports of call included Oxford United, Luton Town, Notts County, Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield, Burton Albion, Carlisle United and Torquay United.
Last season
Although they finished 21st Mansfield were seven points clear of the relegated pair. They won five and lost seven of their first 12 games in league and cup and didn’t have their first draw until October. They finished disappointingly with eight defeats and one win in their last nine while their cup hopes all ended at the first round stage with defeats to Sheffield United (Capital One Cup), Notts County (JP Trophy) and Concord Rangers (FA Cup).
Summer plans
Murray has been one of the busiest managers in the close season and has so far recruited eight new faces. His biggest coup has been bringing back striker Matt Green, whose goals got the Stags back into the League in 2012, after two injury-plagued seasons at Birmingham City. Other recruits are defenders Lee Collins from Northampton, Mal Benning from Walsall, strikers Chris Beardsley (ex-Stevenage) and Adi Yussuf, from non-league Oxford City. The Stags have also recruited midfielders Adam Chapman from Newport County and Nathan Thomas from Motherwell.
Previous meetings
Although the clubs have never met in the Football League we were regular opponents in our Conference days. In our promotion-winning season in 2010-11 Reds won 4-1 at Field Mill and 2-0 at home.
How far is it?
It is a 360 mile round trip to Mansfield.