Stags star Green on Murray departure and new boss Evans

Mansfield Town striker Matt Green has spoken for the first time of his disappointment after manager and good friend Adam Murray left the club last month.
Matt Green celebrates a goalMatt Green celebrates a goal
Matt Green celebrates a goal

But the Stags’ leading goalscorer is now determined to prove his worth to new boss Steve Evans and was delighted to notch his first goal for his new employer in the midweek Checkatrade Trophy win at Carlisle United.

With only one League win in 11, Murray’s tenure in the hot seat ended just short of two years after taking over and Green admitted: “I took it hard.

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“Muzz was a good friend to me and I have been with him for a long time. “There have been a lot of things he has helped me with in my game and my career, it’s been priceless. I have so much to thank him for.

“But in the world of football you’ve got to move on fast. The new manager has come in – he is my boss now. I am just listening and doing everything I can to make him a happy manager.”

Murray has often described Green as his best friend, the two playing alongside each other in the Conference-title winning side and Green said he had been in touch with him since his departure to offer his wish him all the best.

“I have spoken to him,” said Green. “Obviously I couldn’t hide my disappointment. I just wanted to thank him for helping my game.

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“I did come back after being injured for two years. He stuck with me and was very patient. He also added a lot of attributes to my football as well.

“I think he has great potential to have a great career as a manager.

“He’s still got a lot of time on his side. I think all the players learned a lot from Adam Murray so I’d like to wish him all the very best and his staff as well.”

Green and the players are now be experiencing a very different type of management as the no-nonsense duo of Steve Evans and Paul Raynor bring in an ‘old school’ style that has won them eight promotions to date.

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“The new manager has come in and stamped his authority straight away and we’ve jumped on board,” said Green.

“I don’t think there is anyone who hasn’t – the last few results have proved it. But there is still a lot of hard work to do.

“Between Steve Evans, Rayns (assistant Paul Raynor) and LT (Lee Taylor, fitness coach), they’ve come in and stamped their authority and I don’t think anyone would argue with them.

“He takes no prisoners. You jump on it or he will get rid of you. But that’s football anyway. He has come in and installed a siege mentality. What we have got to do now is impress him.

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“We are all under the eyes of Steve Evans, who has worked at the top level and worked with some great players. So no one can out-speak him. His reputation and his stats speak for themselves.

“You can see there is lot more energy about us right now. He wants to win and if he can install that into all us lot you have a recipe for success.”

Green was delighted and relieved to end a run of seven goalless games in midweek.

“Strikers, we all go through it,” he said. “I’ve had a few assists but it’s the best feeling in the world to get a goal. It’s my job.

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“I was really happy with that but the main thing was to get the win which will hopefully start off a run for us and for myself.

“When I scored at Port Vale it got me on a run again, so if this one gets me going again it will be perfect.

“My stats are always going to be decent at the end of a season. You just have to grin and bear the times you go through little goal droughts.”

Green is now preparing to face visiting Colchester United on Saturday and admitted: “I don’t know much about them. But just going on form, they are doing okay. When you think of Colchester you think of a League One team really.

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“Hopefully it’s a full house here with adult and child for £11. It helps us so much if we can get this place full or near full. It is so much better as a player with atmosphere.”

Assistant manager Paul Raynor agreed that the goal at Carlisle would do Green good.

“He has needed that,” he said. “He has been working incredibly hard, but strikers need goals. They thrive on taking chances.

“So that was great for Greenie. He’s been very unselfish in terms of his work rate for the team and, obviously, created opportunities for other people.

“It was nice for him to get a little tap-in from half a yard from a great ball from Lee Collins. It was a nice poacher’s goal for him.”