Nigel Clough delivers early insight into Mansfield Town transfer and new contract plans

Stags were extremely active on the transfer front following the end of their first season back in League One. After a tense finish to their campaign ensured the club’s league survival, a fleet of players left the One Call Stadium over the summer.

Among those who departed the club were former first choice goalkeeper Christy Pym and now retired duo Scott Flinders and Lee Gregory. Meanwhile, a raft of new signings, including the returning Ryan Sweeney, arrived at the club ahead of the 2025/26 season. First team regulars including the skipper, Liam Roberts and Regan Hendry all joined Mansfield Town during the summer window.

Stags also strengthened in the new year, bringing in the likes of Victor Adeboyejo and Harry Lewis on permanent deals, while Tottenham Hotspur youngsters George Abbott and Oliver Irow arrived on loan.

Across the two windows, Mansfield bolstered their squad significantly and Clough feels his team now has a solid foundation to move forwards.

“I don’t think there will be that many changes in the summer. We did all our business 12 months ago and in January as well – we signed more than 12 players in total and that’s enough for us. There’ll be maybe three or four coming in and the same going out. We want to improve this group,” the manager said in his mid-week press conference.

Clough was also asked whether Mansfield Town are looking to improve their attacking ranks ahead of the 2026/27 season. Following the Burton Albion game, he had a lot of praise for his team’s defensive efforts. The club had identified the backline as an area in need of improvement last summer and Clough feels they have bolstered well in that department.

“Those we have defensively have done so well. So it is [attackers we are looking for],” the boss said. “We think we’ve got the players – Tyler Roberts and Luke Bolton, Rhys Oates, Will Evans and Victor Adeboyejo at the moment. We’ve got Lucas Akins who can go up there, even Jordan Bowery can go up there. We’ve got Joe Gardner and Oliver Irow as well – we’ve got plenty of options.

“Tyler is out of contract with us, Jon Russell the same. George Abbott is on loan… so it’ll depend on those situations.”

Mansfield Town new contracts pending

Clough also confirmed that Mansfield Town have decided who they want to offer new contracts to between now and the summer. The likes of Deji Oshilaja, Louis Reed and Frazer Blake-Tracy have already put pen to paper this year but Stags are lining up extensions for others as well.

While names have not yet been mentioned, Clough expects talks to happen sooner rather than later, providing Stags make quick work of guaranteeing their league safety.

“We’ve pretty much made our minds up on them [who will get a new contract], and the good thing is, hopefully we will be safe in the next week or so and then we can start having those conversations a little bit earlier and get cracking. Whereas we weren’t safe until the end of the season 12 months ago, so you have to leave things a little bit later.”