Newly promoted League One side Mansfield Town have announced Rhys Oates and Lucas Akins have both signed new one-year contracts while George Maris has signed a new two-year contract, announced via the club’s social media.
The trio played important roles to help Mansfield Town clinch promotion into League One and have now gained their reward by securing their future with the football club.
Stability is Key
Rhys 29, joined Mansfield in the summer of 2021 joining the club from Hartlepool United. During his first season with Mansfield, he scored 12 goals, and his injury-hit second season meant he only appeared in 24 League Two matches, this season, he had a season-ending injury on New Year’s Day after having 5 goal involvements.
The move shows faith from manager Nigel Clough, to help Rhys get back to fitness as well as offering continuity in the forward line.
Akins 35, followed manager Clough from Burton joining Mansfield in January of 2021. Over the past two and half years Akins has played a key role, in a variety of positions comfortable operating down the entire right-hand side or up front where he played most of his games during the 23/24 season.
He scored 12 goals in 45 League Two appearances helping Mansfield get promoted, his experience will be vital for them having played at this level for Tranmere, Stevenage and Burton. Akins is also capped by his country Grenada appearing in their most recent World Cup Qualifier vs Trinidad and Tobago.
George 28, will now be heading into his fifth season as a Mansfield player having joined the club in the summer of 2020 from Cambridge United. The midfielder started 31 games last season and appeared off the bench 12 times, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists. He ranks in the 96% percentile for most touches compared to other attacking midfielders in League Two as well as in the top 95% percentile for defensive actions.
This will be George’s first full season in League One, having only made four substitute appearances for Barnsley nearly nine years ago.
What does this mean for Mansfield?
Keeping Akins on for a further year is smart business I think. League One is expected to be extremely competitive this year and having a player that is powerful, fast and experienced could prove extremely valuable this season.
A player who has worked under Clough for several years now will know the challenges that this league will offer as well as being that calm head when playing in the larger stadiums having played at Championship level with Burton.
The creativity and defensive ability of Maris can sometimes be difficult to find especially in such a competitive market, as well as being a newly promoted team. George will know his role inside and out especially with how Mansfield plays and in a season where a good start could be the difference between staying up and going down it was important that they retained his services.
Everyone is looking for ‘that’ Number nine that will score goals, Rhys when fit offers more than just scoring goals, offering good build-up play and runs to allow space for the second striker or attacking midfielder to get on the end of things. The one-year deal allows Mansfield flexibility to see how performs upon his return without being locked in for a second year if things don’t go to plan.