The future starts here

FORMER Notts goalkeeper Mick Leonard has returned to Meadow Lane to take up his new role as director of the Centre of Excellence-and promised to play his part in reviving the club’s fortunes.

And he is in no doubt about the size of the task which confronts him as he strives to re-launch a youth scheme.
He said: “It’s a massive challenge but I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Everyone knows that one of the strengths of Notts County over the years was the way they kept producing good young players but we’re having to start again from scratch.”
“It’s going to take a long time to get back to anything like it was. But we have to start somewhere and that job is now under way.”
Leonard’s immediate challenge is to find 100 talented young players before the start of September to join the various squads, ranging from under-9s to a combined 15-16 age group.
And he added: “We’ve put together a steering group to oversee the running of the project, and now I need to put in place a programme of activities and find the coaches and players.”
“Nottingham has always been regarded within football as an excellent breeding ground for promising young footballers and I’m looking forward to getting around the schools and finding out if that is still the case.”
Leonard, who made 204 League appearances for County from 1979-88, has been working as an academy director in Dubai for the past two years and before that was national goalkeeping coach for the New Zealand FA.
He added: ““I’m excited about linking up again with Ian McParland and Dave Kevan and the opportunity to come back and play a part in reviving the fortunes of Notts County really appeals to me.”
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Earnshaw signing the real indicator

COLIN Calderwood is adamant the capture of Rob Earnshaw will entice other high profile players to join Nottingham Forest.

The Reds boss has seen Sammy Clingan move on to Norwich City this week- the second player to turn down a new contract after the departure of Kris Commons to Derby County.

But far form feeling the moves have dented Forest’s squad building, he feels Earnshaw’s signing is the real indicator as to the club’s intentions in the transfer market this summer.

He said: “I think it will help(attract other players to sign). Anyone with any knowledge knows the group is potentially quite good but what we’ve added is a bit of experience and a certain firepower from the past but we certainly think he’s got a great chance of having that in the future as well.”

“In a perfect world everyone will be here in pre-season so you could do the whole thing as a group, but it just won’t happen like that.”

“But I think there won’t be any hurry up signings-it’ll be someone we’ve looked at, spoken to or spoke about-they’ll be the ones who join us.”

“We won’t take anyone who suddenly shoots up from nowhere.”
“But something will happen between now and the start of the season where a change of ownership or a change of manager at a couple of clubs and suddenly someone becomes a first choice(target) when we didn’t think they’d be first choice.”

No pressure

ROB Earnshaw has vowed his high profile move from Derby County will not pile on the pressure to perform immediately in a Nottingham Forest shirt.

The 27-year-old switched to the City Ground earlier in the month in a £2.65m move to take his career transfer fees to £12.65m

But he says the money doesn’t enter his head when the heat is on to perform.

He said: “It(the transfer fee) doesn’t bother me because I want it to be that way, you’re an asset to the club then.”

“I’m looking to do well on the pitch, and that’s all I look to do, score goals, be smiling and enjoying it football- that’s all I want to do.”

Fans hail 'impressive' new stand

TRENT Bridge’s new stand can safely be described as receiving the seal of approval. Officially opened by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on June 5, on the first day for the Test match against New Zealand, the stand has since successfully housed fans for Notts’ Twenty20 campaign.
And if the supporters’ views are anything to go by, the club can be assured they’ve replaced the old Parr stand with something to be proud of.

On a pleasant sunny Saturday afternoon on June 14 against Durham, fans may have already been in positive mood after a 23 run win, but they didn’t hold back on their praise for the new facility.

Mike Smalley, 42, and his wife Denise and their children James and Alice from Edwalton watched the game from the stand.

Mike said: “The view from the top of the stand here is great. I think a few people were concerned that it was only increasing capacity by a couple of thousand but this complements the rest of the ground really well.”

“Every improvement they’ve done is in keeping with the surroundings. Even the new floodlights don’t look ugly or out of place.”

James, 9, added: “It’s really good. I like sitting behind the bowler’s arm but I like this view better.”

Irene Dakin, 64 and husband Martin from Ravenshead were also impressed.

“It’s an excellent spot.” she said. “It’s arguably better than the Fox Road stand which itself has good views.”

“They’ve managed to design something which doesn’t feel out of place with the rest of the ground. Sometimes a new stand can just look odd for a while but this fits nicely.”

“It looks even more like a real 21st century test ground. Headingley and Old Trafford can’t compete in my opinion.” Chief Executive at the club Derek brewer commented this won’t necessarily be the end of ground improvements.

He said: “We are determined to continue to enhance Trent Bridge in order to continue to attract major matches to the venue and look forward to welcoming supporters to our new facilities.”

Hopkins Departs

RYAN Hopkins has left Nottingham Rugby Club to re-join Plymouth Albion.The 27-year-old prop joined from the same club in 2006, and in two seasons made 65 First XV appearances scoring six tries. A club spokesman said: “We thank him for his efforts over the last two seasons and wish him the best of luck with his "new" club.”Meanwhile coach Glenn Delaney has confirmed his side will play London Irish in a pre-season friendly at Sunbury on Friday August 15.

The future's heading for Orangeville

The GMB Nottingham Panthers are sending three young players to Canada for intensive summer training. Two more can’t make the trip but will be on personal training programmes here in the UK.

The club is sponsoring Robert Lachowicz and Sam Bullas along with another promising teenager Tom Norton who will be flying to Orangeville where coach Corey Neilson has run a successful hockey camp for ten years.

James Neil and Joe Graham have family commitments and can’t make the trip but coach Neilson has devised training routines for them.

At the camp in Canada it will be ice hockey 24/7.

Said Corey Neilson today : “The youngsters will be training with us and they will also go to some try-outs with local teams so that they can compare themselves with other players.
“It will be hockey all the way – and in a party-free environment.
“There will be personal training when they will all be analysed and any holes or weaknesses in their game will be worked on and hopefully eliminated.
“When I was their age I was a man, in terms of size and stature, therefore physical development will be crucial.
“I’m very excited by the prospects of these boys going back home and having that extra edge when it comes to Panthers’ training camp.”
Often young players trying to break in to the senior ranks have to make do with an odd shift at the end of a game that has already been cracked open one way or the other but the GMB Panthers coach is hoping to break the trend and use his young players more often:
“I don’t want a fourth line of kids coming on late in the game when it is either won or lost. That helps no one. I want them to make a contribution throughout the game and this training camp should help them, and help me, to achieve that.”

'We've got to find the right combination'

COLIN Calderwood has stated Nottingham Forest must find the right forward combination next season to fulfil their potential in the Coca-Cola Championship.

The Reds boss has brought in Rob Earnshaw from Derby in a £2.65m move but is yet to finalise the long term futures of Nathan Tyson, Junior Agogo and Grant Holt.

The latter two have both been linked with moves away from the City Ground whilst Tyson has stalled on a new contract offer.

And the Reds boss didn’t dismiss other forwards may arrive before July, highlighting a system must be found in the warm-up games that suits his personnel.

He said: “We’ve got to find the right combination and that’s why pre-season we’d want to have everybody in.”

“I think you can sometimes have almost opposites or too similar and sometimes that two strikers that don’t really gel together.”

“It’ll be interesting to see the link up with all the forward players. The important thing now is the service we get to them.”

“The one thing we don’t lack is good set play delivers in the team which is always useful to have.”

He also said it was important to plug the creativity gap offset by the loss of Kris Commons to Derby County.

He added: “We’ve lost Kris(Commons) who’s a major provider of goals and it’ll be interesting what comes out of the squad and that’s all for our pre-season work.”

“We’ll try one or two combinations and try and get the best formation and formula for ourselves.”

“In losing Kris we’ve obviously lost someone who can conjure something with the ball, a good set play deliver and someone who could play as a winger.”

“We’ve got to adjust around that a little bit so maybe we need someone with a little bit of width.”

Stags set to lose Hamshaw

MANSFIELD Town look to set to lose Matt Hamshaw to rivals Notts County.The 26-year-old midfielder will meet Mappies boss Ian McParland this week to finalise the deal having already held talks with the assistant-manager Dave Kevan and Tommy Johnson. The former Sheffield Wednesday player has been linked with moves to Lincoln City and his hometown club Rotherham, since being released by relegated Mansfield at the end of last season.And he indicated Notts County are the closest of the three clubs to grab his signature.
He said: "Notts County is a massive club. If they get it right there is huge potential to move up the Football League. They are a very attractive club. I always give 100% respect to clubs that are interested in me, and I have got a couple of other clubs to speak to. Notts County is at the top of my short-list."

Vandanel back Notts

Football clothing manufacturer, Vandanel Sport Ltd, has announced a major kit deal with League Two side Notts County.

League Two Notts County and Vandanel have worked closely on the deal and now look forward to working together in the coming seasons.
Neil Burke, Director of Vandanel Sport Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be associated with what is universally recognised as the oldest football league club in the world. Vandanel is proud to supply top quality clothing and it is a privilege that our brand is to be aligned with such a well-known and traditional club. We are very proud to be able to announce this deal.”

Shots Not Slogs

HARD hitting batsman Adam Voges has said he can still play his natural game and get results in Notts’ imminent Twenty20 campaign.

The top order Aussie is relishing the competition having built up an enviable reputation for spectacular performances in the format in his native Perth for Western Australia.

He said: “I think you can still play good cricket shots, the guys can get a bit unstuck just trying to slog balls.

“Personally it’s just knowing which areas I’m strong and sticking to them. You’ve got to improvise now and then when the circumstances demand but it’s mainly just hitting to your strengths.”

And he admits Notts have not necessarily played spectacularly in one day games this year but have ground out results.

He added: “Our one day in form in the FPT has been a little bit indifferent but we won a lot of group games. I can’t see any reason why we shouldn’t do well in Twenty20.”

Quarter Final Target

NOTTS head coach Mick Newell has said the club’s progression in Twenty20 campaigns in the last two years will stand them in good stead for a crack at this year’s title.

Notts begin their group games on June 13 against Yorkshire at Headingley and Newell is optimistic a last eight spot is again a realistic target.

He said: “Our first two or three Twenty20 campaigns were hopeless where as now we’ve had a finals day and a quarter final and I think a quarter final has to be your minimum target.”

“It’s financially beneficial to the club to get there plus the players want to get there and get out of the group.”

Four Green'n'Whites agree new deals

NOTTINGHAM Rugby’s preparations for the new season continue with four more players agreeing new contracts.

Dan Montagu, Alex Loney Tim Usasz and Chris Pilgrim have all signed for another year. They join Matt Parr, Alex Dodge, Luke Sherriff, Craig Hammond, Tim Molenaar, Nigel Hall, Joe Duffey, Nic Rouse, Lee Morley, David Jackson, Andy Savage and Tim Taylor, who have already committed their immediate futures to the Green and Whites.

Director of Rugby Glenn Delaney, who has also signed a new rolling contract which commits him to Nottingham for the foreseeable future, is delighted with the progress the club is making. "We are getting there," he said. "We are planning ahead and everything is starting to fall into place.

"There is still a lot of work to do, a few players I would still like to sign and we are getting on with that. We have a lot of work to do but I am excited about the future."

Delaney is also hoping that centre Matt Smith will be back for the coming season. He said: "I'm working at Matt being available to us as well. He is contracted to Leicester Tigers but I'm hoping we might get him on a joint contract. He was fantastic for us last season."