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Joe Jones
Alan Hardy is looking forward to Easter Monday's Meadow Lane clash between Notts County and Portsmouth and hopes that more people go through the turnstiles than for the Mansfield Town game.
Pompey are gunning for automatic promotion from League Two this season, sitting third on 74 points - eight ahead of Luton Town with just five games left, and have a chance to confirm their ascent into League One in Nottingham.
The Notts owner is relishing the chance to see a top-three side try their luck at "our fortress", in what he expects will be a game with brilliant atmosphere.
Hardy wrote in the Nottingham Post: "[The win over Carlisle] set us up very nicely for the games over the Easter weekend which is a great time of the year for any football fan given the amount of fixtures.
"First we travel to Crewe on Good Friday where we hope to continue our momentum ahead of the Portsmouth game on Bank Holiday Monday.
"That game has got so many people talking around the city, not least because Portsmouth fans are travelling in their thousands as they look to win promotion to League One.
"Ticket sales have been magnificent and I am hoping that we will surpass our biggest attendance of the season so far which was against Mansfield Town back in January.
"More than 11,000 fans came through the gates for that derby, but I am expecting us to eclipse that total and I cannot wait to experience the atmosphere.
"For some time now, I have been longing to see a top-three team at our fortress because that's what Meadow Lane has become.
"We are unbeaten at home in 2017 and I don't think there will be too many teams across the divisions who can boast that kind of record."
To read Alan Hardy's latest Nottingham Post column in full, click here.
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan wants the Notts County players who are out of contract at the end of the season to be exemplary off the pitch as well as on it.
With the exception of Adam Collin, Mark Yeates, Carl Dickinson, Michael O'Connor and Matt Tootle, every other player will see their current deals expire this summer.
Nolan is hoping to reward those players who have made themselves count over the last few months, but will also look at their attitude as a whole in training and during downtime.
"It's not just about a Saturday, it's about how you react to them, whether you are in the team or out of the team and whether you are in the squad or out of it," he told the Nottingham Post.
"All those type of things - including how they act around the club - will be monitored.
"That will all be taken into consideration when we are deciding if we want to keep players for another season or whether we will be saying thank you for their services and wishing them luck in their career.
"But we haven't got there yet. I am really pleased with what I have got and there are some tough decisions to be made."
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Joe Jones
Shola Ameobi has dropped a massive hint towards extending his Notts County contract beyond the end of the season after admitting it's "the place I am supposed to be".
The former Newcastle United striker penned a short-term deal in February, with ex-teammate and friend Kevin Nolan at the help of the Magpies.
Since then, he has won plaudits from both fans and pundits with four goals in 13 appearances, even prompting some Newcastle fans to joke about signing him back.
Speaking of his time at Notts, Ameobi told the Nottingham Post: "I am loving every minute of it and the big thing for me is that I've been able to come in and feel at home straight away.
"I can hear the love from the fans and it means a lot, not just for me but for the team because they are really behind us.
"It makes me feel that this is the place I am supposed to be. So as long as my body allows it, then (a contract renewal) is something I am hoping that can happen."
Earlier in the day, Nolan had dropped a hint of his own about hoping to renew Ameobi's contract at Meadow Lane.
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has made a hint towards Shola Ameobi staying at Notts County beyond the end of the season.
The 35-year-old frontman joined the Magpies on a short-term deal in early February and has bagged four goals in 13 games for the club.
Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "I'm quite certain that if I want to keep Shola then he will be here next year, because we're mates.
"He was not playing and no one had rang him up for his services for the last six months when I made the call.
"I think he's spoken quite openly that he was thinking of even hanging up his boots in January.
"What you are seeing now is a fully fit Shola Ameobi and what he can do. I know what he can do, that's why I brought him to the club.
"And it's not just what he does on the field, but off it too with his professionalism. He's a credit to himself as well as his family, and he's a credit to this club because he drives a lot of it in the dressing room and makes my life easier.
"I've got nothing but good things to say about Shola. He's happy, I'm happy so when we know we're happy we normally come to a good agreement."
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has paid tribute to the stability behind the scenes as a major factor in Notts County's improvements on the pitch.
Since Alan Hardy took over the club in January, the Magpies have enjoyed steady progress which has turned them from down-and-out misfits into the in-form team of League Two.
There is even talk among the fans of a late, though somewhat-implausible-at-this-stage, tilt at the playoffs, which just goes to show how good things are now, considering the start of the year was a case of bracing ourselves for the non-league.
"The work that Alan is doing off the pitch is absolutely fantastic and what the lads are doing on the pitch is backing all that up," Nolan told the Nottingham Post.
"It makes for a much healthier environment when everything is getting sorted from top to bottom and you have a manager and chairman who are in tandem with each other.
"That's why you are seeing the performances from these lads. They are settled and know exactly what is expected of them."
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Joe Jones
Jess Clarke, one of the longest-serving players in the Notts County Ladies team, has completed a move to Liverpool Ladies for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old, a striker who came through the youth setup at Leeds Carnegie Ladies, joined the Lady Pies in 2010, spending the last six seasons at the club.
Clarke was part of the 2015 Notts squad that reached two major cup finals, including the Women’s FA Cup Final, the first to be held at Wembley Stadium.
On the departure, Notts manager Rick Passmoor said: “Jess has been a fantastic asset to this team for the three seasons we’ve been here.
"She expressed a desire to move on to a new challenge – a request we reluctantly accepted."
On her move, Clarke told the Liverpool website: “I am delighted to join Liverpool Ladies and I’m really looking forward to working alongside the players and Scott.
“There is already a great squad of players here and I am confident that we will have a successful Spring Series.”
Liverpool Ladies boss Scott Rogers, meanwhile, said: "Jess will give us more options up front and I am confident that she can prove to be a really important addition to the squad.
“Jess is lightning quick, as well as being clinical in front of goal. She is also proven in the FAWSL, so I am delighted to have signed her ahead of the upcoming Spring Series."
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PON_News
With the season heading into the business end, March had plenty of chicanes for Juventus to navigate, but I'm glad to say we have done so successfully.
We are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after beating Porto 1-0 at the Juventus Stadium, which completed a 3-0 aggregate win, and we will be hosting Barcelona tonight!
In Serie A, we are still top of the table with 77 points from 31 games, with Roma six points behind. We only played three league games, claiming two wins (against AC Milan and Sampdoria) and a draw (against Udinese).
April has so far brought us a win and a draw in Serie A, claiming a point at Napoli and getting a 2-0 win over Chievo.
We also played Napoli in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, losing 3-2 to them in the second leg - Gonzalo Higuain scored our goals - but still reaching the final thanks to an aggregate win of 5-4.
There weren't many games in April due to the international break, which brought us bad news as winger Marko Pjaca injured his knee in Croatia's friendly loss to Estonia. He suffered a torn cruciate ligament and external meniscus, which will see him out of action for about six months.
But on the positive side, 19-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has completed his medical at Juve ahead of a € 9m summer move. The Under-20 Uruguay International is one of the most promising midfielders in the world so his signing is great for the club.

In between the two Napoli games, Higuaìn spoke about his reasons for leaving the Partenopei and joining Juventus. He said: "I am happy with this choice because I reached a certain serenity, on and off the football. It was what I tried and I did. On a personal level, I feel I made the right step. "
Our MVP for March is Juan Cuadrado. It was a positive month, but April will be even more important in the season of our Juve!
Thank you to Leo from Daje Juve for this article. Follow them on Instagram by clicking here.
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Joe Jones
Notts County have secured a deal with Basford United that will guarantee the Magpies their own training pitch next season, Kevin Nolan has revealed.
The team have currently been using Basford's facilities and 4G pitch in the build-up to games, but this will change going into the new campaign.
"We have brokered a deal with Basford United and we will have our own pitch up there," Nolan told the Nottingham Post.
"Our groundsman will be working there. They (Basford) have been fantastic and so too have the boss (Alan Hardy) and Jason (Turner, CEO).
"It's another positive move for the club and epitomises what is going on at the club at the moment in terms of getting the right facilities.
"We have been training on 4G and while it's not great to be working on it all week, at least you can work on your qualities and know the weather will not have a massive effect.
"Next year we are hoping to have a great playing surface at Meadow Lane and we are hoping to replicate that at Basford.
"We are going to have our own pitch that we will be able to train on daily. It will be a grass pitch and we will also have the use of the 4G when needed.
"I am just delighted we have somewhere for next year when we will be on grass more often than not."
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has singled out goalkeeper Adam Collin and midfielder Michael O'Connor for praise following their respective displays in the 2-1 win over Carlisle United.
Collin made up for failing to save Jabo Ibehre's shot for the hosts' opening goal with a great save from the striker one-on-one, while O'Connor impressed after coming off the bench for the last 25 minutes.
"I think Adam will be disappointed and he has already held his hand up about the first goal," Nolan told the Nottingham Post. "But you have seen a reaction from him because he then saves a one on one with Ibehre later on in the game.
"Adam has been absolutely first class since I came in and the problem with playing goalkeeper is that if you make an error you are often punished for it. But when you look at it, he has saved us the three points.
"Although the first goal went in, the save from the one on one was absolutely fabulous. He won't be getting any gripes from me, but he'll probably beating himself up more than I will be having a go at him.
"Michael O'Connor was a real positive coming on for us. It would have summed up a fantastic afternoon for him if he had scored. He definitely made an impact on the game and it was a massive one."
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Joe Jones
Notts County put in another impressive display to claim a 2-1 win over Carlisle United in Saturday's League Two clash at Brunton Park.
It looked like the Magpies' winning run would come to an end at Brunton Park when substitute Jabo Ibehre put the Cumbrians ahead and the clock began to tick over into the 80s.
However, Jon Stead drew Notts level in the 85th minute before Matt Tootle struck a winner heading into injury time to make it four wins on the trot for Nolan's boys.
Here are the highlights from the game on the Notts official site.
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has found himself beaming once again after yet another impressive Notts County display and result in Saturday's 2-1 win over Carlisle United.
It looked like the Magpies' winning run would come to an end at Brunton Park when substitute Jabo Ibehre put the Cumbrians ahead and the clock began to tick over into the 80s.
However, Jon Stead drew Notts level in the 85th minute before Matt Tootle struck a winner heading into injury time to make it four wins on the trot for Nolan's boys.
The result not only all but confirmed League Two safety, with 13 points' distance between the 15th-placed Magpies and second-from-bottom Newport County with just 15 points left to play for, but with just 10 points between Notts and the top seven, there is even talk of an audacious tilt at the playoffs.
"The away form is looking a lot better now and a lot healthier since I came in," Nolan told the Nottingham Post. "I thought we thoroughly deserved the points and I thought we handled them really well.
"I was a bit disappointed with the goal we conceded. I thought we could have cut it out a lot earlier.
"I was delighted with the reaction of all the boys and then from the lads who came on. Their attitude and application when they came on to the pitch was just brilliant. That's why you have a squad and that's why I talk about it all the time."
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Joe Jones
Not even the most optimistic of Notts County fans would have honestly believed that their beleaguered team, reeling from 10 consecutive defeats and on their way out of the Football League, would be heading into the last five games of the season closer to the League Two playoffs than to the bottom two.
But that's exactly what has happened, as the Magpies now boast a four-match winning run after two late goals overturned what appeared to be a defeat at Carlisle United into a 2-1 victory at Brunton Park on Saturday.
The opening exchanges of the match were somewhat scrappy but Notts soon got the upper hand and Shola Ameobi was unlucky not to open the scoring midway through the first half when his header was cleared off the line by Shaun Brisley.
The second half started with Jon Stead trying his luck with an effort which Mark Gillespie had covered, while Matt Tootle blazed another attempt wayward and Adam Campbell fired a volley over as both sides battled to take the upper hand.
Despite County's probing play, they were sucker-punched when Jabo Ibehre, who had come on as a substitute for Carlisle less than a minute , gave the hosts the lead with a powerful shot which dumbfounded Adam Collin on the way into the net.
However, Kevin Nolan's boys persevered and found themselves level five minutes from time when Stead made the most of a mix-up between Brisley and Gillespie to bundle home from close range for his 14th goal of the season.
That wasn't the end of it, and Notts went on to win the game outright thanks to a 90th-minute strike from Tootle, who let rip from range and, despite Gillespie claiming the ball, he let it bobble out of his hands and into the net.
The result puts Notts 15th in the table, 10 points off seventh and 13 ahead of Newport County, who are enjoying a mini-revival of their own with a second consecutive win, but with just 15 points to play for this season, it's very unlikely for Notts to slip back into trouble, given the miracles worked by Nolan.
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has revealed that he is eager to his future at Notts County beyond his current 2018 deal.
Earlier this week, Alan Hardy let it be known that he is in talks with Nolan over a new three-year contract at Meadow Lane, following his impressive spell in charge so far.
Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "I'm delighted that we can now open discussions about maybe extending the stay. I'm sure they will be quite smooth talks.
"I think the most important thing is that we put that to bed, we get me and my management team sorted so that it bodes well for when we are talking to new players for next year, and the current squad, so they know it's settled.
"I think a lot of them under the last regime were very unsettled in what was going on.
"But now they're seeing I've got the full backing of the boss and hopefully it will go a long way to making a few of them feel more familiar or more settled in the fact that they are signing a contract with a club going forward."
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Joe Jones
Carlisle United and Notts County have met 31 times since their first clash back in October 1959, a Fourth Division clash that was won 2-0 by the Cumbrians.
Out of those, the Magpies have won 16 and lost 12, with just 3 draws.
Our last meeting was on New Year's Eve last year, losing 3-2 to the Cumbrians at Meadow Lane.
Carlisle staged their 'home' fixture against Notts at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium in December 2015 due to floods in Cumbria which impacted on Brunton Park as well.
Carlisle is one of the northernmost clubs in the Football League, just 10 miles from the Scottish border, and one that’s normally mentioned among the most difficult away days – talk of “Carlisle away” is one for the most hardcore fans, especially in midweek (Newcastle United are further north than Carlisle, however).
The Cumbrians have spent a season in the top flight, back in 1974-75, and recorded a double over Everton, as well as home victories over eventual champions Derby County, former titleholders Ipswich Town, Arsenal, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers. They were relegated at the end of the season though.
Carlisle is the smallest location, by population, to have had a resident top-flight English football club since 1906. Prior to this, Accrington FC, Darwen, Grimsby Town & Glossop North End were smaller.
Despite their small stature, the club has experience moderate success with regards to silverware – they have won a Third Division title back in 1965, two Fourth Division championships in 1995 and 2006, and two Football League Trophies, back in 1997 and 2011.
Carlisle are famous for one of the most dramatic Great Escape scenarios in all of English football, when on-loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored in the last 10 seconds of their final game of the 1998-99 season against Plymouth Argyle to keep the Cumbrians in the Football League at the expense of Scarborough.
Team news
Jason Kennedy and Jabo Ibehre have returned to fitness after injuries and may play a part for Carlisle on Saturday after being unused substitutes last weekend.
Recent signing Ben Tomlinson is hoping for a first appearance for the Cumbrians but Nicky Adams is a doubt as he continues to struggle with a hamstring injury.
Shaun Miller serves the second game of a four-match suspension after receiving his second red card of the season in the defeat to Crewe a fortnight ago.
Notts hope to have captain Michael O'Connor back in contention for the trip to Cumbria - he missed last weekend's win over Colchester after bruising his foot in training but should be fit to play at Brunton Park.
Winger Mark Yeates will definitely be absent as he completes a three-game ban following his sending-off at home to Barnet last month.
Left-back Marc Bola has recovered from a hamstring problem and should be included in the Magpies' squad.
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Joe Jones
Alan Hardy has admitted that he wants the Meadow Lane pitch relaid to make it fit the way Notts County want to play next season.
The Notts owner announced earlier this year that the pitch is to undergo work in May.
"When we played Doncaster a few weeks back, I looked at the pitch and thought it was great," Hardy told the Nottingham Post.
"Ours isn't that conducive to the way we want to play, which is why we are having work carried out come the end of the season.
"It doesn't help that the sun never gets to the side of the pitch where the Derek Pavis Stand sits because the stand overshadows much of that surface in front of the dugouts.
"So we have looked at it and the last time there was work on the pitch was seven years ago.
"The plan is that we are going to take the top 18 inches off and complete the new pitch ready for next season.
"Personally, I love seeing players like Marc Bola, who are fast, skilful and young, driving down the pitch and moving the ball about at speed.
"That's the style of play the manager wants so I thought it was best to give them a surface they can really play on."
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Pride of Nottingham is an independent fansite devoted to Notts County, the world’s oldest professional football club. Created in 2013, it has served as a source of Magpie news, features, match previews, reports, analysis and interviews for more than three years.

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