LOMAS ON STAGS: Nervous week ahead but I think Green will stay

It is going to be a nervous week's wait until that August transfer window deadline as Mansfield Town hope no one comes in and make them an offer they can't refuse for star striker Matt Green.

It would be the ultimate kick in the nether regions for the club were they to lose their goals ace at this stage of the season and leave boss Adam Murray with an almost impossible task to replace him.

Clubs at Mansfield’s level rarely have the luxury of possessing enough money to be able to go out and buy goals.

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Proven goalscorers are a very expensive commodity and, once they prove they can do it regularly, they will always be snapped up by clubs higher up the leagues.

So for a club like Mansfield you either grown your own organically in a youth set-up or you do some homework on players with promise, sign one and then get lucky if he matures into the finished article.

Click HERE to read Adam Murray’s thoughts on Green

Click HERE to read Martin Shaw’s blog on why Stags won’t go up without Green

Click HERE to read worried fans’ views on the Green transfer speculation

With Green Stags did their homework and got lucky.

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He was hardly a regular scorer at Oxford United and only once made double figures for a season before arriving at Mansfield.

But the potential was there and Stags polished and honed him into the valuable asset he is today.

However, for every Matt Green with potential that turns into a predatory finisher, there are many strikers who never live up to their potential.

Whatever ‘ big fee’ Murray would get for Green, were he to go, it wouldn’t be enough to go out and buy an established striker from the leagues above.

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Clubs at Stags’ level would not want to sell their proven scorers to a rival while bringing in a bright, young Conference hotshot does not always work out as the signings of Ollie Palmer and Adi Yussuf showed.

Green is said to be very happy at Mansfield, where he is loved by the fans and scoring goals.

But, at the age of 29, he must wonder what might have happened to his career had he not sustained that injury at Birmingham.

And he must also wonder if at his age there is still the chance of one last opportunity to test himself at a higher level.

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But would a Championship club still feel Green is worth an investment?

A fascinating seven days lies ahead as this one plays out in front of us.

But I have a feeling Green will still be here to lead the Mansfield attack in a fortnight as a move to a League One club may not be seen as enough of a spur to leave a club he loves where he is going to bag at least 20 goals this season.

However, if a Championship club, with money to burn at that level, takes a gamble it might be a whole different story and Murray may need to pull a rabbit out of a hat to keep the season’s ambitions alive.

What do you think? Let us know via our CHAD STAGS FACEBOOK or via [email protected]