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Stuart Maynard discusses transfers, squad depth, and Notts County's upcoming clash with Swindon Town in League Two


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As Notts County prepare to take on Swindon Town away from home at the County Ground, head coach Stuart Maynard remains confident, despite the ongoing challenges of the transfer window.

The Magpies have yet to secure an away victory this season, but they are buoyed by their recent 4-1 thrashing of Grimsby Town at Meadow Lane, a performance Maynard hopes to build on.

In a recent pre-match press conference, Maynard discussed the club’s transfer activity, revealing that the window has been an intense period. “Look, we've been active for the last month,” Maynard said. “We've been trying to make deals happen. We're getting very close to getting a couple [of signings] through the door, which is good for us. So yeah, it's busy, busy times. It always is at this time of the year.”

Maynard acknowledged the typical anxiety managers feel as the window draws to a close, expressing a desire for it to shut soon, but only once their business is complete. “If we can get done what we want, we'll be very happy,” he noted.

Reflecting on the summer transfer period, Maynard praised the club's proactive approach. "I think we got a lot of our business done very early. We were very aggressive in the market. We knew what we needed to strengthen, and I think we got it in the building." However, he also highlighted the importance of being selective with late-stage signings, aiming to add players who can genuinely enhance the squad’s competitiveness. “We don't just want to add players that are not going to have an impact within the squad,” Maynard stressed.

Despite securing some key signings, Maynard admitted that the club had let more players go than they’ve brought in, leading to a leaner squad. However, he sees this as a strategic move to ensure squad depth and hunger. "We want to make sure that we've got a hungry squad that are ready to compete. We need squad depth, and that's why we're hoping that we can add a couple more."

On the subject of potential departures, Maynard was candid about the interest other clubs have shown in his players, but remained firm that the club has rejected all bids that didn’t meet their valuations. “We have had [bids], and the club have rejected them. We don't feel that it meets the valuation,” he explained. He was particularly adamant about the importance of retaining key players like Dan Crowley and Jodi Jones, who have attracted significant attention. “We’re ambitious as a football club. We want to compete at the top end of this division, and that is the aim.”

Turning his attention to the upcoming match, Maynard expressed excitement about getting back on the pitch after the long break following the Grimsby victory. “It does feel like an age, but it's been nice. We've had a few knocks that we've been able to manage now and recover and get everyone kind of fresh again.” He also provided an update on Matty Palmer’s fitness, indicating that while Palmer is improving, they are cautious not to rush his return. “We can't rush him. We've got a plan with the medical team and we can't divert away from that.”

Maynard also praised Lewis Macari for his consistency this season, highlighting the young player’s professional attitude and versatility. "He's an incredible pro. He comes in training, he wants to improve every day. He can play in numerous positions."

As Notts County prepare for what promises to be a challenging fixture at Swindon, Maynard’s focus remains on maintaining the momentum from their recent performances while carefully navigating the final days of the transfer window. With a couple of potential signings on the horizon, the Magpies could soon be in an even stronger position to compete at the top end of the division.

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Join in with the Pride of Nottingham's match discussion, the magpies' travels to the County Ground to take on Swindon Town.



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i am glad that notts has rejected the bids, but it could lead to higher offers if clubs are desperate enough to add quality to their team. im not concerned all that much, pleased the focus is solely on playing swindon town.

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I'm really pleased with the players that the recruiters have managed to bring into the Club.

I believe the squad has been strengthened by these signings too. I also believe that the Club made the right decision to release the players that they did apart from Macca of course.

It is always sad to see so many players go, but they will always be remembered for what they did to get Notts back into the football league.

I would like to see another striker come in before the transfer window closes & I pray that Jodi & Dan will stay 

As far as the match against Swindon is concerned, it's a good opportunity for Notts to get their first win of the season away.

If Notts play as they did against Grimsby they should get that win. Keeping tight at the back is essential because Swindon cannot be underestimated.

A 2:1 win would be great, a win & a clean sheet would be even better.

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If we want to compete at the top level, it's important to keep the squad we have now. Losing Macaulay Langstaff to Millwall and Aaron Nemane to MK Dons has taken two quality players away from us, but Notts are building a strong team and are showing signs of being a good League Two side. Regarding new signings, I’m sure there will be some movement, but we need to focus on preventing any more players from leaving. We should also look to take advantage of Swindon Town’s current form.

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Jodi Jones and Dan Crowley are players who would be hard to replace, at least on a like-for-like basis. It's important that we don’t have to change our approach, as these two fit our system well. They will show their worth against Swindon, which is where we need to concentrate.

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It's excellent news that the bids have been rejected, it gives us fans confidence in keeping a team capable of pushing for a return to League One. Promotion relies on players like Dan Crowley and Jodi Jones, so having them is very important. Both players will be part of the squad against Swindon, and we need to start improving our away form by earning a win on the road. This will lift our confidence and give us fans more reason to cheer at the games.

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I sincerely hope we can keep Jones and Crowley and pleased we are rejecting bids that don’t meet our valuation but what happens if a bid comes that does meet the valuation? Presumably then we’ll lose one or both, I hope the valuation is that ridiculously high that it puts clubs off. We need both players if we’re serious about promotion.

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It's reassuring to know that the bids have been turned down. Keeping hold of Dan Crowley and Jodi Jones is very important. Every player has their price, but I remain hopeful that new contracts will be signed. Winning against Swindon Town and maintaining our strong start will boost our confidence. Aiming for promotion shows we are heading in the right direction, and it's crucial for players to enjoy their game, which we provide. Let's concentrate on achieving the results we need rather than worrying about losing players. If we get the results, they are likely to stay.

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It’s good news that the club has turned down bids; we can assume the one from MK Dons for Dan Crowley has worried our supporters. I wasn’t aware of any other bids, so who was interested in Jodi Jones? I believe we can be quietly confident that once the transfer window closes, Notts will be able to concentrate on getting the results we need to bring some optimism. If we have the funds, let’s sort out any out-of-contract players at the end of the season as soon as possible.

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It's great that Notts has turned down the offers for our players. I wasn't too worried because it would be crazy to sell Dan Crowley or Jodi Jones now. They're working hard to bring in new players, but it's been tough. Selling either or both wouldn't make it easier. So, I'm really happy about that. Lewis Macari has been playing very well. People might talk about him more because of his grandfather, but he deserves our praise. He looks like a good player.

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It's encouraging to hear Maynard's optimism despite the challenges of the transfer window. While we've yet to secure an away win, the recent victory over Grimsby has given us a much-needed boost. The club's aggressive approach to the transfer market, coupled with Maynard's emphasis on squad depth and quality, suggests that we're heading in the right direction. Hopefully, the remaining signings can help us solidify our position and achieve our goals this season.

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