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Joe Jones
Richard Thomas has spoken of how important it is for Notts County's players to not only recuperate after the rigours of last season but also to begin getting back into the swing of things in early June.
The Magpies saw their season prolonged due to the playoffs and are set to report back to training in three weeks' time.
“First thing is to rest and recuperate,” assistant manager Thomas told the official website.
“Get yourself some mental space, just relax, switch off and spend time with family and friends.
“Early June is the time to start ticking over so you don’t lose everything.
“We don’t want players coming back thinking you get fit in pre-season - you should come back and hit the ground running.”
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Joe Jones
Alan Hardy has revealed that he has held talks with EFL and FA officials in hopes of improving the quality of refereeing at lower-league level.
League Two was beset by officiating errors ranging from the minute to the critical, such as the ones in the Coventry City games that saw the Magpies miss out on progress to the playoff final.
"I have met with Dave Cookson, the Football Services Director at the EFL, as well as Andy Ambler, the head of professional game relations at the Football Association, to not only share concerns but also discuss ways in which we can assist officials," Hardy told the Nottingham Post.
"One of my ideas was to implement a watered-down version of Video Assistant Referees that could be trialled for League Two games.
"There is one broadcast camera filming every game, the feed from which could also be used to give the referee and the fourth official an opportunity to review a goalscoring incident or a goal by the side of the pitch.
"It may not be the eight cameras that the Premier League have but at least it may provide the chance for mistakes to be rectified.
"They listened intently to what I had to say and it was a thoroughly positive discussion because the last thing we want is for referees to be pilloried.
"We want to be able to help them avoid the headlines and if we can do that by implementing some form of technical assistance, I think it would be good for them, the managers, the players and the fans.
"It can be done simply and cheaply compared with the cost of an additional £86,000 for each club just to make the referees full-time, which would still leave the assistants part-time.
"My ideas were taken on board and they will be put forward to the International Football Association Board which oversees the rules of the game.
"I would hope the IFAB give it serious consideration because I don’t think it’s unfair to say that the reputation of officials in the lower leagues is not at an all-time high.
"That is not fair on them because they work long hours during the week and then officiate games at the weekend for their love of the sport.
"They deserve our respect but they also deserve our help.
"What I have suggested is not just for Notts County’s benefit, but for every other club in the lower echelons of the EFL.
"We have a responsibility to make the game the best it can be, whether it be in terms of entertainment, the experience or the issue of referees."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have confirmed that goalkeeper Branislav Pindroch has signed a new two-year deal at Meadow Lane.
The 26-year-old, who became the first Slovakian to play for the Magpies when he joined the club last summer, made four appearances last season and was third choice behind Adam Collin and Ross Fitzsimons.
“I have really enjoyed my first season at the club,” he told the official website.
“Learning from the likes of Mark Crossley and the manager has been an amazing experience for me and I’m so happy it’s going to continue.
“I’m really looking forward to pre-season and challenging for my place in the team.”
Notts manager Kevin Nolan added: “Bran impressed us so much in his first season with us.
“He showed massive improvement towards the end of the campaign and we definitely see a future for him in English football.
“He has worked very hard to conquer the language barrier and now speaks perfectly good English.
“He’s the first man in the gym and the last out. He’s a great example of a first-class pro and he thoroughly deserves his contract.
“It will be a really good battle between him and Ross next season. There is no number one – it’s up to them both to claim the shirt.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County defender Richard Duffy has signed a new contract with the club.
The 32-year-old, who stood in as captain for the previously injured Michael O'Connor, made 50 appearances for the Magpies.
Duffy joined Notts in the summer of 2016 and has made 97 appearances in total for the club.
"The club has come on leaps and bounds in the last 18 months," the Welshman told the official website.
"We've given ourselves a really strong foundation to build from in 2018-19 and I want to be part of that.
"It will be my third season at Notts and it feels like home now."
Notts boss Kevin Nolan added: "Duffer has been a pillar of consistency ever since I first walked through the doors.
"He was a huge part of what was a very positive 2017-18 season and I'm delighted he's going to be with us once again next season."
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Joe Jones
Notts County assistant manager Richard Thomas has described Dan Jones's new contract as "great business for the club".
The left-back put pen to paper on a two-year deal on Wednesday, joining goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons and defender Pierce Bird in committing his future to the club.
Jones was impressive towards the end of last season and ended the campaign with four goals, and Thomas praised him for his attitude and skills.
“We’re delighted DJ will be with us again next year," he told the Nottingham Post.
"He's fantastic to work with on a daily basis and is constantly looking to improve, which is all you can ask of any player.
"With the attacking threat he poses down our left, aligned with the goals and assists he brings, this is great business for the club."
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Joe Jones
Dan Jones has signed a new two-year contract at Notts County.
The 31-year-old left-back, who joined on a free transfer a year ago scored four goals in 33 games last season, helping the Magpies reach the playoffs.
Jones was one of several players to be offered a new deal by boss Kevin Nolan when the 2018 retained list was announced last month.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Meadow Lane so far and there was only one place I wanted to be next season,” Jones told the official club website.
"The manager, his staff, my team-mates and the club as a whole have been amazing.
“The disappointment of the play-offs is behind us all now and we’re really looking forward to the new season.
“We’re all focused on success and, with the group of players we have, I have every confidence we can achieve it.”
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Joe Jones
New Notts County striker Kristian Dennis has expressed his desire to be at the right end of the League Two table this season after back-to-back relegations with Chesterfield.
The 28-year-old joined the Magpies last week in a deal thought to have cost the club £150,000.
Dennis scored 21 goals last season but could not prevent the Spireites from dropping out of the Football League and is eager to make up for it by winning promotion with Notts.
“I came back into the league with Chesterfield and had two relegations so that’s the last thing I want on my mind,” he told the Nottingham Post.
“I want to be at the opposite end of the table and right up there vying for promotion.
“I know Notts finished fifth last season and hopefully we can go one better, get automatic and get up into League One.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County have announced the signing of Manchester City academy midfielder Will Patching once his contract at the Etihad expires on July 1.
The 19-year-old, who has been with the Premier League champions since the under-six age group, has agreed a two-year deal at Meadow Lane.
“I’ve never had an experience like this before,” Patching told the official Notts site. “I’m looking forward to it.
“I love having the ball at my feet and I can chip in with assists and like scoring goals, but I can play in a deeper holding position as well. I enjoy set pieces, too. I do a lot of work on them so hopefully I can score a few here.
“I can’t wait to work under Kevin Nolan. He’s got good attributes as a manager and he played in my position, so he can help me with a lot of things I need to work on. Hopefully I can go on to have a career like his.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County owner Alan Hardy has stressed how important it was to give "an early statement of intent" to the league by moving early to bring in big signings.
The club chairman acknowledges that, two weeks ago, the Magpies were left reeling by their playoff defeat to Coventry City.
Moving on from that, Hardy spoke of showing the world that Notts "would be far from a wounded animal next season", ergo the arrivals of the likes of Kristian Dennis, Kane Hemmings, Andy Kellett and Tom Crawford.
"Let’s rewind a fortnight," Hardy wrote in the Nottingham Post. "The final whistle has just blown at Meadow Lane and our play-offs campaign has been curtailed in the cruelest way possible.
"The mood around the club is probably the worst it’s been since Kevin Nolan and I arrived. Our whole season has been undone by abysmal decisions from not one, but two separate sets of officials and it’s hard, right now, to look ahead with much excitement or optimism.
"Now, fast forward to the present day. We’ve just announced four superb new signings, seen two of our brightest prospects commit their future to us and confirmed pre-season friendlies against Leicester City and Derby County.
"The atmosphere behind the scenes is the best it’s been in recent years and everyone, players, staff and supporters, can’t wait for the new campaign to come around.
"I must take this opportunity to praise the tireless work of our football operations director, Jason Turner, who has been instrumental in all the above.
"Jason’s knowledge and passion for the industry are vital to us and he, along with several other members of staff, worked around the clock this week to help deliver all the brilliant news we have been delighted to share.
"It was crucial we gave an early statement of intent, not only to our supporters but also to the football world to show them we would be far from a wounded animal next season.
"We had our targets, we worked out a plan and we nailed it."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have added a fourth player to their ranks this week in the shape of Kane Hemmings, who joins from Oxford United on a three-year deal for a reported fee of around £100,000.
The Magpies have already snapped up Tom Crawford, Kristian Dennis and Andy Kellett, and now they have secured the signature of a player who enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Mansfield Town last term.
Hemmings will be familiar to Notts fans, having scored a 99th-minute penalty in a 1-1 draw at Meadow Lane in March.
“I’m over the moon,” the Burton-upon-Trent lad told the official Notts site. “This is a club that wants to go places, and I want to go there with them.
“Being a local lad and having heard the plans the manager and chairman have for the club, it’s an opportunity I couldn’t really turn down.
“As soon as the offer came in I was convinced straightaway. It’s a perfect match and I’m delighted to get it done.
“I like to get on the ball and be in and around the box, getting shots away and linking up with team-mates.
“Hopefully the fans will see an exciting player who scores a goal or two and is a big influence on the team.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County assistant manager Richard Thomas is confident that Kristian Dennis's arrival at Meadow Lane means "a lot more goals walking through the door".
The Magpies had a bid rejected for the forward on Tuesday, but followed it up with an improved offer believed to be £150,000 which was enough to seal the deal.
Dennis, who scored 21 goals for the relegated Spireites, has signed a three-year contract at Meadow Lane in the club's biggest spend since the arrival of Izale McLeod from Crawley Town in 2015.
“Kristian brings goals – and that’s what everybody’s craving,” Thomas told the Nottingham Post. “It’s the hardest thing in the game to do, but he does it very successfully.
“He’s a threat in and around the box – that’s where he’ll do most of his work. He’s a very good signing and hopefully it’s a lot more goals walking through the door.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County have announced the double signing of Chesterfield striker Kristian Dennis and his former loan teammate, left-back Andy Kellett, who joins from Wigan Athletic.
Dennis, 28, scored 21 goals for the Spireites last season, an impressive return which however could not keep the Derbyshire club in League Two, and joins for an undisclosed fee.
Kellett, meanwhile, was on loan at the Proact Stadium last term but arrives at Meadow Lane after having been released by the Championship-bound Latics.
“I’m aiming for more (goals), to be honest,” Dennis, who penned a three-year deal, told the official site. “Hopefully, playing in a team that’s challenging for promotion, I’ll get 25 - if not more.
“I like to work hard, get hold of the ball and make runs in behind – and to put the ball in the net, which is what I’m paid to do. I back myself on either foot when I’ve got a shot on goal.”
Kellett said: “I spoke with the manager about a week ago and wanted to come here straightaway.
“I know how passionate he is from when I was coming through as a young lad at Bolton. He was someone I looked up to. He was a leader on the pitch and I’m sure he’ll try and get the best out of me.
“I like to think I’m quite exciting – I like to run with the ball and counter-attack.
“I grew up as a left back, played as a wing back at Plymouth and when I signed for Wigan they saw me more as an attack-minded player. I think that’s where my preferred position is.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County have announced the signing of teenage Chester FC midfielder Tom Crawford for an undisclosed fee.
The 19-year-old, who celebrated his birthday today, made 17 appearances for the Blues and was deemed one of the bright lights in a poor season which saw the team relegated from the National League.
Crawford, who made his England C debut against the Republic of Ireland amateur side on Sunday, was believed to be on the radar of several sides in the Championship and League One but opted for the Magpies.
“What a day. It’s a great birthday present to sign at Meadow Lane and I just can’t wait to get started," he told the official Notts site.
“I loved every minute of my time at Chester and I was disappointed we went down. But, for me personally, to get into the team and play 17 games and score a goal was a big achievement.
“The bigger the crowd, the better for me. I just can’t wait to get out there and play in front of thousands of people.
“I thrive off that sort of stuff – I love the atmosphere and want more of it. I’ll be working my socks off between now and pre-season to be fitter than ever before.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons and defender Pierce Bird have signed new deals at Meadow Lane.
The pair have put pen to paper on extensions that will run until the end of the 2019-20 season.
Fitzsimons played 20 games for the Magpies last season, getting an extended run after now-released Adam Collin suffered an injury.
However, he lost his place in the team after being sent off in a 2-1 defeat to Crawley Town for lashing out at an opposition player.
“At the time [of the Crawley incident] I completely saw red,” Fitzsimons told the official site. “I just didn’t process it in my mind.
“I’m not generally like that – everyone has moments when they act before they think, and unfortunately that was mine.
“After that, I didn’t really have a case to go into the manager’s office and ask why I wasn’t playing because Adam came back in and was outstanding for us.
“The main aim for me now is to come back and try and claim the number-one shirt – and hopefully help the team to top end of the table come the end of next season.
“I was over the moon to hear the manager and his staff wanted to keep me on for an extended period.”
Bird, meanwhile, joined Notts last summer from non-league Dunkirk and made one appearance for the Magpies in a EFL Trophy defeat to Lincoln City.
“From this time last year, a lot of things have changed,” the 19-year-old said.
“I’ve been out on loan [to Alfreton and Leek], so I picked up a good amount of gametime, and hopefully now I’ll kick on into pre-season and see where that takes me from there.
“I’m looking to be around the first team and in the matchday squads more than last year. It would be a dream come true to break into the first team and get 10-15 games under my belt.”
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Joe Jones
Alan Hardy has given Notts County goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons a big vote of confidence, saying he will be "worth a large sum of money" in a few years' time.
The 23-year-old has been offered a new contract by the Magpies and, should he sign it, is likely to become Adam Collin's successor after the former number one was released by the club.
Fitzsimons did well in deputising for Collin last season but lost his place in January after lashing out at Crawley Town player Mark Connolly to earn a red card and give the opposition a penalty which was converted.
“Ross was outstanding in the games he played,” Hardy told the Nottingham Post.
“If it wasn’t for the sending off against Crawley when we played them at Meadow Lane, then he would have probably retained his place throughout the rest of the season.
“Ross is a fantastic prospect for the future, and we believe in three years’ time, he will be worth a large sum of money.
“He is a very talented young goalkeeper.”
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