Boss Matt Chatfield hopes deals will aid AFC Mansfield charge

Matt Chatfield initiated summer business nearly two weeks ago with the return of title-winning forward Lynton Karkach.

The 23-year-old, who earned consecutive promotions from the NCEL with the Bulls and Worksop Town, marked the beginning of his second spell at the Forest Town Arena with a one-year deal.

“I was really delighted to bring Lynton back to the club,” Chatfield said, “we’d identified areas of the pitch we felt needed more competition and then put a list together of players we thought were the most effective, and Lynton was top of the list.

“He’s already done a lot in the game and has some great experience, but still fits in with the club’s ethos of bringing younger players to the club.

“I’m hoping himself and a couple of others will help guide the team to start looking at the top half of the table.”

With further transfers lined up, the Bulls boss hopes that the new arrivals will only boost the momentum gained towards the end of the expunged season.

AFC averaged nearly two points per league game since the turn of the year, beating the likes of Staveley and Hemsworth.

“We finished the season well and looked to be climbing up the table with pace, we got some great results against some of the top sides.

“The majority of the squad will be kept on and naturally we will be looking at players who will strengthen the side, but they've got to add value because the squad has been getting better game by game.”

With no promotions from Step 5 this season, three promotion places in the NCEL Premier Division may still be up for grabs – should that be the case, Chatfield fancies his side’s chances: “I think we will have a chance to push for those spots next season when it is safe to commence.

“To be honest, it was a shame because I think the teams in the promotion places deserved to go up and, in my opinion, the most logical thing was to decide on points per game, but the FA decided otherwise and we can’t change the outcome now.”

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