New signing targets promotion with AFC Mansfield

Ben Algar believes AFC Mansfield can win promotion.

The defender signed on the dotted line after switching from Maltby Main and declared he wants to bag one of the NCEL Premier Division promotion spots.

And experienced Algar (30), who has experience with Chesterfield and Matlock, has been left impressed with the squad being put together by boss Matt Chatfield.

“I thought, with some of the players they have signed, it looks promising,” he said. “It is a fresh start and I am looking forward to the season starting.

“I want to kick on and hopefully win the league, but promotion is a must.

“If we don’t get it automatic, then we must make sure we win the play-offs. We should be pushing to be right up there with the team we have.”

“It is a good new start and a nice opportunity for me. I know Matt fairly well and the chance came up to join.

“ I tried to keep myself ticking over in lockdown, but it’s totally different being back in training. The first session was tough but just what was neeed.

“It has been nice to have that break, but I’m ready to go now.”

“I hope to bring composure on the ball and to create chances. I like to attack and I got 20 plus assists last season as well as two goals. I just hope to help the team with my experience.”

AFC Mansfield will go into the new season with a 16-man squad after they confirmed their retained list.

It features 12 names from last season, along with new signings Ben Algar, Lynton Karkach, Liam Marsden and Matt Sykes.

And boss Matt Chatfield believes his side are in a much better position to challenge than they were this time last year.

"Look at us this time last season - we only had two players in the changing room and we had to build a squad from there," he said.

"That certainly hindered our pre-season and the start of the season in particular, so to have 16 players signed, sealed and delivered makes a massive difference.

"We didn't want to bring in players during pre-season, we're just concentrating on the lads that we've got and what we need to do to get them better and bring out their full potential."

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