Mansfield CHAD - Wednesday 9th August 2006
Ex-Stags' boss wins unfair dismissal hearing
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Ex-Stags' boss wins unfair dismissal hearing
FORMER Mansfield Town manager Keith Curle has won his case for wrongful dismissal by the Stags.
Manchester County Court was told this week that Curle (42) was sacked just before Christmas 2004, accused of bullying a youth team player - a charge which he always denied.
But after a two-day hearing, Judge Field QC today cleared Curle of any wrongdoing, saying he had acted 'appropriately, professionally and fairly' at all times.
The judge, who also awarded Curle undisclosed damages, went on to criticise the club's disciplinary process as 'a sham'
Curle said: "I'm delighted. The case was never about money, but about clearing my name. I've got nothing against the Mansfield fans, but this really was necessary to clear my name."
Stags chief executive Keith Haslam told Radio Mansfield: "I am shocked, but that's the risk of going to court.
"We have got to accept the verdict and get on with it. This happened almost two years ago, we have now moved on and have a good young squad, a bright manager and are looking forward to a great season
"Let's just look to the future, everyone is enthusiastic after pre-season. Season ticket sales are 10-15% up on last year, everything is looking bright.
"Everyone's got a smile on their face, everyone is happy and this is a new start."
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Stags - Confusion over Dawson's yellow card double
CONFUSION surrounded the two yellow cards which appeared to be shown to Mansfield Town's Stephen Dawson before he was substituted instead of being sent off in the home 2-1 win over Milton Keynes Dons last night.
Dawson was first booked just before the break for a foul and then appeared to be shown a second a minute from time after lengthy protests over referee Kevin Wright's decision not to award him a penalty.
But Dawson was not automatically red-carded and was substituted a minute later.
However, both managers said they were were unaware he had been carded twice.
"I did not see Stephen Dawson get a second yellow card so it baffles me if he did," said Mansfield manager Peter Shirtliff.
"But we are still unbeaten through pre-season and into our first two games. If we keep producing good performances and scoring goals like we are then you never know what could happen.
"We have a confidence right now and they are an honest bunch of lads that are a pleasure to work with."
Dons boss Martin Allen added that he also didn't see the second yellow card for Dawson and said: "If that is the case then that's not good but we still had the players capable of winning the game.
"We started very brightly, looked very sharp and were comfortable at 1-0. But two sloppy goals cost us dear - basic schoolboy defending errors which we must learn to eradicate.
"Moments of madness cost us after we had dominated the game and possession. Their goals came out of the blue - just simple straight balls which we didn't deal with.
"We tried everything in the second half, lots of different formations but we couldn't unlock the door.
"They defended very well and very deep, but that is something we must get used to in this division. We should be able to win at places like Mansfield.
"It is a big game when we come into town, but that is also something we have got to get used to."
Stags came from behind to win the match against the newly-relegated Dons with two goals in eight minutes from Richie Barker and Michael Boulding and Shirtliff added: "I was delighted with the result. I thought our players were excellent throughout the 90 minutes.
"We started slowly which was disappointing and, funnily, I thought their goal kick-started us and we got our tempo up and started to cause them problems.
"Milton Keynes have some big lads and I thought our back four and keeper did excellent. We have worked on our defending on the training ground this week and it paid off.
"We did have opportunities for a third goal. Simon Brown was clear on goal after timing his run perfectly but was given offside, And we also had a good penalty shout turned down."
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FULL match report from both Shrewsbury and the home clash with MK Dons in this weeks edition.
But Dawson was not automatically red-carded and was substituted a minute later.
However, both managers said they were were unaware he had been carded twice.
"I did not see Stephen Dawson get a second yellow card so it baffles me if he did," said Mansfield manager Peter Shirtliff.
"But we are still unbeaten through pre-season and into our first two games. If we keep producing good performances and scoring goals like we are then you never know what could happen.
"We have a confidence right now and they are an honest bunch of lads that are a pleasure to work with."
Dons boss Martin Allen added that he also didn't see the second yellow card for Dawson and said: "If that is the case then that's not good but we still had the players capable of winning the game.
"We started very brightly, looked very sharp and were comfortable at 1-0. But two sloppy goals cost us dear - basic schoolboy defending errors which we must learn to eradicate.
"Moments of madness cost us after we had dominated the game and possession. Their goals came out of the blue - just simple straight balls which we didn't deal with.
"We tried everything in the second half, lots of different formations but we couldn't unlock the door.
"They defended very well and very deep, but that is something we must get used to in this division. We should be able to win at places like Mansfield.
"It is a big game when we come into town, but that is also something we have got to get used to."
Stags came from behind to win the match against the newly-relegated Dons with two goals in eight minutes from Richie Barker and Michael Boulding and Shirtliff added: "I was delighted with the result. I thought our players were excellent throughout the 90 minutes.
"We started slowly which was disappointing and, funnily, I thought their goal kick-started us and we got our tempo up and started to cause them problems.
"Milton Keynes have some big lads and I thought our back four and keeper did excellent. We have worked on our defending on the training ground this week and it paid off.
"We did have opportunities for a third goal. Simon Brown was clear on goal after timing his run perfectly but was given offside, And we also had a good penalty shout turned down."
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FULL match report from both Shrewsbury and the home clash with MK Dons in this weeks edition.