Why Nigel Clough believes Mansfield Town are now an easier club to sell to new signings
Nigel Clough is confident Stags are an easier club to sell to prospective signings than they were this time last year.
The Stags gaffer confirmed that the play-off hopefuls have made two offers for players - one a forward and one a midfielder - as he looks to enhance the quality of his squad ahead of the 26/27 campaign.
And Clough believes last season’s 39 year season-high finish and a number of other factors are all helping to make Mansfield a more attractive proposition.
“You can never say we have established ourselves in League One, it will be unbelievably tough with the teams coming up and down next season,” said Clough.
“But it does help your recruitment when you finish in the top half with 65 points. Some players don’t want to be fighting relegation like we were the season before. That helps without a doubt.”
That recruitment process is currently well underway with Stags waiting on two players and having already tied up the influential Tyler Roberts on a new deal.
Talks with Lucas Akins, Stephen McLaughlin, Elliott Hewitt, Jordan Bowery, Anthony Nunez, Jon Russell and George Maris are also at an advanced stage.
“We are speaking with prospective new signings,” added Clough. “We are not planning on bringing in a defender, providing they all stay and are all fit, because of how good the defenders were last year. We are covered in all positions and that proved itself last season.
“We are definitely bringing in a midfielder and a forward, so that is our plan. We have got offers for a couple of players in those positions. We will wait, they are our first choices and then we work back from there.
“That will take us to the 20 players and then we will see from there. You always want to try and leave one space available, because you never know after pre-season, even into August, there might be someone who comes up out of the blue.”
Stags ended an impressive season with a top ten finish after beating Cardiff 5-4 in a final day thriller.
It meant Mansfield ended the season having lost just one of their last 15 games to end the season with the joint third-best defence in the league.