Willem Tomlinson's Mansfield Town exit left manager Graham Coughlan 'haunted'

Graham Coughlan admits he has felt 'haunted' by Willem Tomlinson's Mansfield Town departure.
Willem Tomlinson. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)Willem Tomlinson. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)
Willem Tomlinson. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)

On Monday the Stags announced the 22-year-old's contract had been terminated by mutual consent.

Speaking at this morning's press conference, manager Coughlan elaborated on the situation, stating the former Blackburn Rovers man had broken his trust following a series of 'misdemeanours'.

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"Willem let himself down on a number of occasions, only once, I may add, with myself," said Coughlan, who did not give further details.

"He's obviously a player I liked and it did haunt me. I put my arm around him when I came through the door.

"That doesn't mean he's a bad player, because we let him go. He's a good player, he just needs to sort himself out.

"I felt he broke my trust. I felt he let himself, the changing room and the football club down."

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Tomlinson made 33 appearances for the Stags since arriving in February last year.

"It's not nice when you have to sit down with a kid and go through his misdemeanours and try to get them on the straight and narrow," Coughlan added.

"I failed. I didn't get him on the straight and narrow and that hurt me. It does haunt me.

"We wish him all the best and thank him for his efforts. We hope he's learned and goes on and re-patches his career."