Trial Verdict Given As Kendrick Signs.

After running the rule over at least 20 trialists so far this pre-season, manager Paul Cox has finally delivered a verdict, Joe Kendrick is found guilty enough to be handed a one year deal with the stags, after impressing against N-Power Championship side Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday evening.

The 28 year old becomes the latest field mill signing and also the third player to have his wages funded by supporter’s trust, 12^th Stag, following in the footsteps of Luke Medley & last year’s second top scorer, Paul Connor.

The 12^th Stag have donated £3,400 towards the Dublin born defenders wages; this signing for me completes our back line and leaves us searching for one small piece of the possible promotion jigsaw – a striker.

Joe is a well travelled defender; his former clubs include Newcastle United (Trainee), TSV 1860 Munich, Darlington, Torquay, Tamworth, Workington, Newcastle Blue Star, Drogheda United, PFC Neftchi, Sligo Rovers, Drogheda United & Bray Wonders. Joe, who’s great uncle of the same name played for Everton, turned down a number of BSBP clubs to join Mansfield, initially on trial, before putting pen to paper. One of the clubs in question appears to be relegated Stockport County.

Joe did fairly well on Tuesday evening, it was after he went off that Doncaster really started to trouble us on the far side. I would have liked to have seen Caruthers or Goodall sign shortly after their trials, but footballs football and they’ve both moved on, Joe is an equally good signing and will fit in well the squad, I welcome him to Field Mill in the hope he will be the answer to the problems we’ve had at left back ever since Adam Eaton departed in my opinion.

Things are beginning to slot into place now, I’m hoping the other two trialists from Tuesday will have now moved on (Shaun Pejic & Lewis Horne), as I said in my match report from Tuesday game, we don’t need any more defenders bar a left back which we now have. We are now on the lookout for a striker, presuming Mitchley will not be part of Paul Cox’s first team plans – the case now? Crossing the I’s & dotting the T’s, the foundations are in place, it’s time to make them set over the next few pre-season fixtures.

Make sure you join me for Full Match Commentary on tomorrow’s away friendly with FC Halifax, build up starts at 2PM on 106.9FM or online (see the right hand side for the link).

Updated Squad & Management List (Last Known Club)

Alan Marriott

Adam Murray

Adam Smith

Tom Naylor

Louis Briscoe

Paul Connor

Rhys Day

Danny Mitchley

Neil Collett

Lee Stevenson (New signing – Eastwood)

Lindon Mikele (New signing – Eastwood)

Paul Bolland (New signing – Macclesfield)

Matt Bell (New signing – Port Vale [Reserves])

Anthony Howell (New signing – Alfreton) 

Ross Dyer (New signing – Forest Green Rovers)

Jon Worthington (New Signing – Bradford City)

Micky Moore (Assistant Manager – Joins from Solihull Moors)

Andy Todd (Player Coach)

Ritchie Sutton (New Signing – Port Vale)

Paul Ogden (Chief Scout)

Luke O’Neill (New Signing – Leicester City)

Shane Redmond (New Signing – Chesterfield)

Martin Riley (New Signing – Cheltenham)

John Thompson (New Signing – Notts County)

Joe Kendrick (New Signing – Bray Wonders)