Supporters' love has kept Rose at Mansfield Town says boss

Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft thanked supporters for making Danny Rose feel loved and wanted at the club after the striker withdrew his transfer request this week.
Mansfield Town's Danny Rose salutes the travelling Stags fanMansfield Town's Danny Rose salutes the travelling Stags fan
Mansfield Town's Danny Rose salutes the travelling Stags fan

Flitcroft said having Rose, 24, commit to the cause once more was ‘brilliant news’.

The striker demanded a move during the summer window, but his expected moved to League One Peterborough failed to happen.

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“His head had been turned to play at a higher level,” said Flitcroft.

“He probably listened to too many people instead of saying ‘I’m in a good place here that’s going in the right direction’.

“It is brilliant news. I said from day one it was very important for me not to have to go and beg him to come off the list. It had to come from him.

“The biggest thing in this decision is how the supporters supported him.

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“Our fans should be very proud that Danny has come off the list because of them. I think that Accrington game made him realise that he had a lot of support and love.

“He probably realised he had made a mistake going to see the chairman and requesting to leave the club.

“Danny now knows he is loved here and has a home here. We are trying to build a family environment where players want to stay here and come through this journey with us.”

“I think the window closing naturally gives someone a focus and a concentration to assess and re-evaluate where they are.”

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Flitcroft now believes Rose will start to chalk up the goals on a regular basis.

“He is now embracing the change on the training ground and definitely improving,” he said. “He is now committing more in training and that is showing in games.

“We are creating chances for him and now it’s just that final bit and him converting those chances.

“He said the other day that over recent games he could have had eight or nine goals with the chances he has had and it’s hurting him. He is a goalscorer who just wants to score goals for this football club.

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“I do believe that will turn and he will get hatfuls as we are creating good quality chances. When he is at his best he puts defenders under severe pressure mentally and physically.”

Flitcroft had every sympathy with Rose’s ambition to play at a higher level that was behind the summer request.

“I think he may have lost sight of why he was here – that there is a bigger cause,” he said.

“Strikers are naturally selfish in their pursuit of goals, which is a brilliant trait to have.

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“Professionally I do get the ambition to play at a higher league. But our ambition is to get out of League Two and drive up towards the top of League One.

“I have reaffirmed to Danny we want him to be a part of that. We need a collective ambition as well as an individual ambition.

“I think Danny has understood he can follow his dreams with Mansfield Town.”