Colin on Mansfield Town.....
Dropping down a division in the summer of 2002, the diminutive Larkin joined Stuart Watkiss' newly-promoted Mansfield for a not inconsiderable £135,000. Irish eyes weren't smiling though as Watkiss was sacked that Christmas, the Stags went straight back down and injury wrecked his chance to prove himself
"I only started 14 games in my first season, and even though I scored seven goals I feel I never really fulfilled my potential."
The fact he was signed as a replacement for fans' favourite Chris Greenacre, who left in a big money move to Stoke, saw even more pressure placed on his slender shoulders:
"I was brought in to fill his boots and I'm a completely different player.""
Completely different he may be to the more powerful striker, now at Tranmere, but with a record of nearly a goal every other game in three seasons at Field Mill, the faithful soon took a liking to Larkin.
"The fans appreciated me there. They saw I was willing to die for the cause and now when I go back to Mansfield, there isn't a bad word said about me."
Despite his popularity, his fortunes took a nosedive when the managerial reins were taken up by Carlton Palmer. As Mansfield were seen as one of the most progressive lower league clubs, this was a surprising choice given the unmitigated disaster his spell at Stockport was
Palmer has gained a reputation for his no-nonsense disciplinarian manner, allegedly reducing a Hatters player to tears on one occasion, so it seemed inevitable he and the more free-spirited Larkin would clash.
"He's not my favourite person. There's a lot of history there. We fell out because I didn't agree with his training methods. "He was very old-school, into fitness and running around a field. As long as we were fit the fact that we couldn't string three passes together didn't bother him."
As a talented athlete Larkin expected more from his manager on the training pitch and thought it right to voice his displeasure at his anachronistic approach. Palmer's reaction was to force him out of the club. In a startling admission, Larkin reveals a darker side to the ex-England international:
"I never wanted to leave but he accused me of faking injury which didn't go down too well with me. In my mind, I knew I had to go then."
Palmer's deliberate alienation of his star man backfired on the Mansfield fans as Larkin moved on a free to their bitterest rivals Chesterfield in the early season.
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full interview at : http://www.chesterfield-fc.premiumtv.co.uk