Chapman phone ban as Murray clinched deal for Mansfield Town

Influential midfielder Chapman agreed a deal to join Stags from Newport County last week and return to the club he impressed at on loan two seasons back.

But he was quickly in demand once it was known he was leaving the Exiles and Murray said: “I signed Chappy as I felt would be a big one for the football club.

“The day that he signed we had three managers ringing him on the day trying to stop the deal, so it was a coup for us.

“We actually took his phone out the room at one point so we couldn’t get interrupted as it kept ringing.”

Later that day Murray also signed utility player Mitchell Rose.

One or two fans seemed unimpressed as Rose’s most recent games had been at Ilkeston, unaware he was already in Murray’s plans before the end of last season and the Stags boss had actually farmed him over to Ilkeston himself.

“People will say since he left Rotherham he hasn’t had a club,” said Murray. “He hasn’t had a club because I kept him here.

“He had my word we would do something. It wasn’t the right time to throw him in and sign him and the time to register him had passed anyway.

“I spoke to Ilkeston personally and asked them if they would take him for me and look after him and keep him under their wing. With the way they play it was a good bedding for him for a few months.

“Mitch is someone who can play in a number of positions. He is fit, strong and kind of a tough character. But he is very focused and he is hungry to do well. He will add something to the squad that we didn’t have in depth last year.”