Football Season Review

Mansfield Town endured a desperate end to the 2017/18 season as the side slipped out of contention for automatic promotion and missed out on a place in the play-offs. The decisive moment came at the end of February when Steve Evans resigned as manager to take over at Peterborough United. It was a real hammer blow for the Stags and they have never recovered. Evans spent 15 months at Field Mill and was backed heavily in the transfer market by owner John Radford. Radford reacted quickly by raiding Swindon Town for manager David Flitcroft but it proved to be a resounding failure as he won just two of the last dozen matches to miss out on the play-offs by just three points. Evans made several additions to the squad last summer with goalkeeper Conrad Logan, missing just one game between the sticks. He also brought in a number of loanees in January and he left with the side having lost just one in 13 matches. Flitcroft drew his first three games after taking over but had to wait nine matches before recording a first win away at bitter local rivals Chesterfield. That was the only time they kept a clean sheet and despite a second win away at Yeovil Town, they left themselves with too-much to do and finished in 8th place in the table. It will be extremely painful for Radford, who will feel let down and it is likely to lead to some uncertainty over the summer. Flitcroft is expected to remain in charge but is set to make changes to the squad he inherited over the summer. He will want to keep hold of striker Danny Rose, who finished as leading goalscorer with 17 goals whilst Defender Krystian Pearce was voted as player of the season.

Player of the Season: Krystian Pearce