Joe Jones

Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has admitted he is hoping to make further additions to his squad this week. The former Nottingham Forest Under-21 coach signed defender Andrew Boyce last week on a loan deal until the end of the season from Scunthorpe United. With Notts without a win in six, Fullarton says he is looking for players who can strengthen a front line that has gone four games without a goal. "We are working tirelessly as I mentioned to revamp and add competition to the squad," he said. -"There are one or two possibilities, but nothing as yet. They have got to contribute and make us better. It's important, and I touched on it when Andrew Boyce signed, that they want to come and play for us. If they are going to make us better and want to come here, that's a combination which brings success. "Recruitment is one of the most important aspects whether it be mid-season or close season. It's all about doing your due diligence about the person you are bringing in. "It's important that whoever we do bring in has a positive effect on the dynamic of the group. I am looking at the whole team, but it's important you try to evolve. "We want to get better and try to add players who will help us improve performances and results. "It's a constant cycle of hard work, but it's based on due diligence and trying to get the right people in. It's a constant process." Who would you like to see Fullarton bring in? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the community, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has admitted that his side "weren't good enough" in their 1-0 defeat at Yeovil Town on Saturday. Former Magpies striker Francois Zoko struck early in the second half to condemn his old club to a fifth defeat in five games, while the Notts front line failed to score for a fourth consecutive game. "We weren't good enough in both boxes as a group as opposed to individuals," said Fullarton. "When opportunities present themselves you've got to take them. But we didn't merit, with our performance, much out of the game. "We are creating chances, but it's that final decision or that final pass which is lacking. When you stop creating chances as opposed to not converting them, then that's a real concern. "In this division it's fine margins but we must do better, and we can do better, if we are to move forward. "As for the goal we conceded, any goal you let in is disappointing, and that's something we have got to correct. "We have got to take on board what we are working towards and try to do better in those situations otherwise we put ourselves up against it. "We all want the same which is when we go out on that pitch we want to apply ourselves. We want to show intent and do what everybody at the football club wants which is to get three points with a performance." How can Fullarton fix Notts? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County loanee Andrew Boyce has criticised his side’s performance in Saturday's 1-0 League Two defeat at Yeovil Town, admitting that only goalkeeper Scott Loach could emerge with any credit. The towering centre-back made his debut at Huish Park, having arrived from Scunthorpe United on loan, but was unable to prevent the Magpies slipping to defeat as former striker Francois Zoko struck in the second half to give his side all three points. Loach, enjoying an extended run in the first team, kept the scoreline respectable with a series of top class saves, including one to keep out Leroy Lita's penalty. "It wasn't a great performance and the only player who can come away with any credit was Scott Loach," Boyce said. "He kept us in the game at 1-0, but obviously we couldn't get a decent enough chance to equalise. "It was an even game and at half-time all the manager said to us was don't concede in the first 10 minutes. He reminded us don't do anything silly, but that's exactly what we did. "It was a good header by Zoko and it was just disappointing. And what is even more disappointing is that we have not pushed hard to get back into the game. "The manager wasn't happy, but you can imagine what he said. I will leave what he said in the dressing room. He's not pleased. “I was frustrated myself because it was my first game for the club and was disappointed in the timing of my headers. But it was just good to get back playing football again." What do you make of Boyce’s comments? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Another matchday, another defeat for Notts, this time away to a resurgent Yeovil Town side who claimed a 1-0 win over the freefalling Magpies on Saturday. The visitors enjoyed a bright start to the game at Huish Park, with Curtis Thompson firing just wide of the left hand post in the seventh minute. Moments later, Liam Noble's well-worked low corner found skipper Jon Stead, but his shot was blocked on the line before being scrambled clear. Yeovil then piled forward and forced a save from Scott Loach in the 10th minute before Mark Laird blasted wide three minutes later. A lull then took place with both sides battling in midfield, but in the 27th minute Adam Campbell's pass to Stead was fired towards goal but blocked on the six-yard line. The Magpies ended the half strongly, with Stead once again pushing forward and threatening with a shot four minutes from the break, but ultimately neither side could break the deadlock come the referee's whistle. This all changed three minutes after the restart, as former Notts striker Francois Zoko connected onto Ryan Dickson's cross to head the ball past Loach and into the net to put the Glovers a goal ahead. Jamie Fullarton had his goalkeeper to thank for keeping the scoreline down with a succession of brilliant saves, including to thwart Leroy Lita's 76th-minute penalty following an alleged handball in the Magpies box. Notts pressed on a number of occasions and came close through Stead, Noble and Campbell, but Yeovil were clearly the better side and, were it not for Loach's saves and some lacklustre finishing, would have finished the game multiple goals to the good. Six games played. Five defeats and one draw (to a struggling Dagenham & Redbridge side). Two goals scored in those six games. None scored in the last four. Just how bad are Notts at the moment? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

The League Two clash between Yeovil Town and Notts County remains goalless at half time, despite a number of threatening efforts from Jamie Fullarton's side. The Magpies enjoyed a bright start to the game at Huish Park, with Curtis Thompson firing just wide of the left hand post in the seventh minute. Moments later, Liam Noble's well-worked low corner found skipper Jon Stead, but his shot was blocked on the line before being scrambled clear. Yeovil then piled forward and forced a save from Scott Loach in the 10th minute before Mark Laird blasted wide three minutes later. A lull then took place with both sides battling in midfield, but in the 27th minute Adam Campbell's pass to Stead was fired towards goal but blocked on the six-yard line. The Magpies ended the half strongly, with Stead once again pushing forward and threatening with a shot four minutes from the break, but ultimately neither side could break the deadlock come the referee's whistle. What did you make of County's first half performance? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County and Yeovil Town have only met 12 times over the years. The first game took place at Meadow Lane on 4 November 1961, with the Magpies beating their opponents 4-2 in the FA Cup. That was the only meeting of the two pre-21st century - the 11 meetings following that game all took place between 2004 and 2015. The last game took place earlier this season on 17 October 2015, with Ricardo Moniz's side triumphing 2-0 at Meadow Lane. The record stands evenly poised for both sides at 5 wins, 5 defeats and 2 draws. Yeovil Football Club was founded in 1890, and shared their ground with the local rugby club for many years. Five years later they were renamed Yeovil Casuals and started playing home games at the Pen Mill Athletic Ground. In 1907 the name Yeovil Town was adopted, which on amalgamation with Petters United became Yeovil and Petters United. The name reverted to Yeovil Town prior to the 1946–47 season. The Somerset outfit have spent most of their existence in the lower leagues, though they briefly made a name for themselves in the 1948-49 season when they beat Sunderland 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round. In the 1980s, Yeovil were founder members of the Football Conference, where they remained for the next two decades, save for a few relegations to the Isthmian League which usually resulted in an instant return to the above tier. Yeovil Town earned promotion to the Football League in the 2002-03 season, by winning the Football Conference by a record 17 points margin, accumulating 95 points and scoring 100 goals, remaining unbeaten at Huish Park. In their second ever season in the Football League, the Glovers went one better by achieving promotion to the third tier as champions of League Two, and in the following years even reached the League One playoffs, beating Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals in 2006-07 before losing to Blackpool in the final at Wembley. Six years later, however, Yeovil achieved what had been deemed unthinkable a decade earlier - they reached the second tier of English football after beating Brentford in the 2013 League One play-off final. Their stay in the Championship was brief, however, and they went on to suffer back-to-back relegations, leaving them in the bottom tier of the Football League. Yeovil is a pretty small town, home to just 40,000 people - two Meadow Lanes could comfortably take in the entire population! In the 21st century, Yeovil became the first town in Britain to institute a system of biometric fingerprint scanning in nightclubs, and the first English council to ban the children's craze Heelys (those trainers with wheels that popped out from the heels). --- Yeovil host Notts at Huish Park on the back of three wins and an unbeaten run that stretches to five games, with four clean sheets along the way for good measure. The Magpies, in contrast, have not won in five and have also lost four of those. On-loan Scunthorpe United defender Andrew Boyce is expected to go straight into the squad for Saturday's trip to Yeovil, after his loan move was finally completed midweek. His arrival should allow Elliott Hewitt to move back to right-back. The only long-term Magpies absentee is Will Hayhurst, who is on the mend from a cruciate ligament injury. Darren Way has no new injury concerns going into the game with long-term absentees Wes Fogden, Jordan Gibbons and Omar Sowunmi the only ones out. Meanwhile Jack Compton and Liam Walsh have been back in training this week and could well make the squad. Leroy Lita is also in line for his debut after signing on a free transfer until the end of the season last week. How do you think this game will pan out? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Businessman and Notts County fan Alan Hardy has given fellow supporters possible hints that his planned takeover of the club has not come to fruition. Hardy, the chief executive of the Paragon Group, is understood to be one of several businessmen or groups interested in the club, which was put up for sale by Ray Trew last month. Taking to Twitter last night, and responding to a fan who used Notts County's Twitter handle saying "sort it out", Hardy said: "I wouldn't hold your breath". When another supporter tweeted "oh no", Hardy continued: "Sorry, I did my best. But sometimes you just have to accept that your best just isn't good enough." Hardy is the only potential buyer who had made public his intention to take control of Notts, but he reportedly hit a stumbling block over the club's asking price. Who would you like to see take over Notts County? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County have confirmed the loan signing of Scunthorpe United defender Andrew Boyce until the end of the season. The 26-year-old former Lincoln City centre-back has joined in training with his new team-mates and could make his debut at Yeovil Town on Saturday. Current Magpies manager Jamie Fullarton has claimed that Boyce's leadership skills and physical presence will be a welcome addition to his side. "Boyce brings physicality and he has a hugely strong presence. He's a leader and I am happy he has chosen to sign for Notts County," Fullarton said. "There was definitely a lot of interest out there, locally and from further afield across the divisions. But I spoke to Andrew and he's decided he wanted to come here. "He wants to play for this club, which is a huge factor when looking to bring players into the football club." Boyce made nine appearances for previous loan side Hartlepool United this season, in addition to a solitary showing for his parent club. What do you think of this signing? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Scunthorpe United defender Andrew Boyce will join Notts County on loan on Friday, according to reports. The former Lincoln City centre-back, who has managed only one substitute appearance for the Iron this term, will spend the rest of the campaign with a club in League Two rumoured to be the Magpies. "Andrew Boyce will be going to a club in League Two on Wednesday to sign a loan deal that runs until the end of the season," manager Brian Laws told the Scunthorpe Telegraph after his side's 2-0 success over Doncaster Rovers last night. "It's a great opportunity for him. In many ways he's going to a club of a really good standing within League Two and I'm sure he'll enjoy his time there. He needs to play games, like a few of our players that are not involved." The deal for 26-year-old Boyce was meant to be completed on Thursday, but journalist Mike White tweeted: "Andrew Boyce to Notts Co still expected to happen but no official word from them or Scunny. Hearing it won't go through until tomorrow now." What do you think about this deal? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County striker Jon Stead has claimed that the hostility being directed towards manager Jamie Fullarton is the worst he has known in his career. Magpies fans aimed chants including “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “get out of our club” towards Fullarton as his side lost 2-0 to Bristol Rovers at Meadow Lane on Saturday. Stewards also had to intervene to prevent a banner being unfurled. Stead says it has been difficult to see F0ullarton become the focus of the fans' anger, having admitted after the Gas game that the atmosphere is beginning to affect the players. "In my career, I've never known any group of fans direct so much stick towards a manager," he said. "It's hard because you feel for him because ultimately it's us that are not performing. "I know the stick is always aimed at him, but I don't think that's just to do with us as players, I think it's to do with everything that built up at the club. "It's quite an easy target to go for the manager, but the anger has to go somewhere. "What we have to do is take that all together. There's no other way we can get out of it other than show unity. "You want to keep it together because we could pull each other's heads off. You've just got to make sure you don't let anything boil over." What do you make of Stead’s comments? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has pledged to work on getting his side to become more dangerous in front of goal after failing to score for four games in a row at Meadow Lane. On Saturday, Bristol Rovers sealed a 2-0 win as the Magpies fell behind to a Cristian Montano goal before seeing Lee Brown double the lead after half-time. The current Notts boss said: "We were always looking to get back into the game and for us to push on. We tried to get back into the game, but we couldn't. It stayed at 2-0. "All we have to keep doing is keep working as hard as we are doing. The lack of goals is something we are trying to correct." Fullarton also felt that once the Pirates had taken the lead it affected the way his side were playing. "I think it was evident in the two goals that we conceded, that it was naivety," he said. "We were playing against one of the top six sides in the division in what is a young squad. "Building on from the first half we were looking to improve and unfortunately we didn't. There were a number of circumstances and situations with it. "Goals change games and affect players. When something does go against us, then it can't affect us the way it did." What do you make of Jamie Fullarton’s words? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Being a Notts County fan is never an easy role. We’ve had more ups and downs at Meadow Lane than a rollercoaster for the majority of our history. But it’s safe to say that, like many fellow supporters, I’ve reached the end of my tether here. Just this week, a Facebook “memory” from four years ago appeared in my feed where I’m proudly declaring that the Magpies had “played four, won four, scored five goals, conceded zero, and will take on Charlton Athletic (top of League One), Sheffield Wednesday (third) and Sheffield United (second) in the next 11 days.” The post ends with “challenge accepted”. Fast-forward four years and we’re in League Two, losing against the likes of Oxford United, Morecambe, Accrington Stanley, and Cambridge United, failing to beat Dagenham & Redbridge, and perhaps worst of all, being brought down by SALFORD CITY in front of a national audience. Oasis once sang “Don’t Look Back In Anger”, but how can we not see where we were just a few years ago and not feel anger, resentment and bitterness at where we are now? It should have never come to this. At the end of the 2011-12 season, we finished seventh in League One, missing out on the playoffs by goal difference. Then it all went pear-shaped. Despite having a squad well equipped to push for the playoffs, Ray Trew abruptly decided to decrease funding, and was quoted by BBC Sport on 9 January 2013 as saying: "I am not prepared to increase that sum (said to be £12m since taking over in 2010)." He added: “The only way I will inject further monies is in the form of loans. If I am being totally honest I am not motivated to even do that currently because I am not being supported by you, the fan base." Keith Curle left and was replaced by Chris Kiwomya, the first of four consecutive managerial appointments with no English league experience. The likes of Lee Hughes, Alan Judge, Neal Bishop and Jeff Hughes would all be out of the door by the summer, and most of the replacements – save for loanees Jack Grealish and Callum McGregor – were simply not up to the same standard. We went from fighting for promotion to fighting against relegation, and even though we survived at the end of the 2013-14 season on the final day, the following season was just as much of a slog, though lightning did not strike twice as relegation to the bottom tier was finally confirmed – the marvellous achievements of the 2009-10 season and subsequent hard work were all undone in the space of two seasons. Although Ricardo Moniz was a decent enough proposition on paper, he simply was not cut for the slog of the English fourth division. The start of the season was difficult enough, and Moniz was rightly, in my opinion, dismissed. Now comes the point in this sorry tale which just defies all logic. A team scrapping in the bottom tier of English professional football, and not having a particularly good time of things at that, should be looking to hire a manager with knowledge of the English lower leagues – it’s not like there aren’t many knocking about – to drag this club back up the pyramid, in the words of former Manchester City defender Andy Morrison, “kicking and screaming”. Instead, what do we get? An Under-21 manager with no experience of the English leagues. Like many other fans, that was the final straw for me. No amount of PR could sell Jamie Fullarton as a good choice of manager to a group of fans that have seen their club endure a deterioration of health since 2013 to the point that it’s now on its last legs, with three equally unqualified and inexperienced managerial choices preceding it. Much talk is made of “fair-weather” fans that only turn up for the good times and stay away during the bad times. This is a discussion that takes place among fans every matchday at the pubs and bars in and around Meadow Lane, in the stands, on forums and on social media. “If you were a proper fan, you’d carry on supporting your club,” an ever-decreasing amount of people will say. However, it has now reached the point where many fans have just had enough. The decline from League One playoff contenders to League Two relegation threats. The illogical managerial appointments. The public fallouts between fans and boardroom, fans and manager, manager and boardroom, and player and club. The revolving door of players through the Meadow Lane doors. Boardroom members resigning. And of course, the culmination of all this turmoil on the pitch – football that the likes of Mark Stallard have described as ‘not suitable for League Two’ live on air. I admit I cannot wait for this season to be over and put Notts to the back of my mind for a few months. The club is in a perilous state of affairs, and no amount of emotional blackmailing from anybody over “supporting the club” will convince me otherwise. Like many other fans, I will support my club in the lower reaches of the Conference if need be, playing derbies against Carlton Town and Alfreton Town. But all I ask for is a team with passion, a manager who knows what he’s doing, and a little bit of harmony behind the scenes. Not utopian perfection, but enough to give the fans reassurance that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet. And at the moment, none of this seems to be the case at Meadow Lane. Do you share JJ's views about the club? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County have slumped to a new low by putting in a diabolical second-half performance in their League Two clash against Bristol Rovers and end up on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat. Just one minute of the Meadow Lane clash had elapsed when Gas man Liam Lawrence suffered an injury and had to be replaced by former Magpies loanee Cristian Montano. The first concrete chance of the game fell to Jason Banton, who cut inside onto his right foot and curled a shot just past the far post. Notts came close again in the 24th minute when Banton managed to beat his man and send a low cross into the six-yard box, where Atkinson came within inches of getting to the ball in a perfect position. Jamie Fullarton's charges continued to dig deep and just after the half-hour mark Jon Stead's ball into the six-yard was just too fast for the in-sliding Izale McLeod. The Pirates, however, would end the first half in front because, just a minute before half time, Montano skinned Atkinson before firing the ball past Scott Loach. Lee Brown then doubled Rovers’ lead soon after the restart by collecting Chris Lines’ corner kick on the edge of the area before planting a left-foot shot past Loach from 20 yards out Notts fans had seen enough, and a number of individuals in the Kop soon unfurled a 'Fullarton Out' banner and raised a chorus of "get out of our club". On the pitch, McLeod headed a good chance wide from an Adam Campbell cross before the pair were replaced by Fullarton in a bid to claw a way back into the game. At the other end, meanwhile, Loach palmed a Jermaine Easter effort away before coming out on top in a one-on-one, while full-back Blair Adams also cleared another attempt off the goal-line. How did you rate Notts’ performance against Bristol Rovers? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

The first half of the League Two game between Notts County and Bristol Rovers has finished with the visitors 1-0 ahead. Just one minute of the Meadow Lane clash had elapsed when Gas man Liam Lawrence suffered an injury and had to be replaced by former Magpies loanee Cristian Montano. The first concrete chance of the game fell to Jason Banton, who cut inside onto his right foot and curled a shot just past the far post. Notts came close again in the 24th minute when Banton managed to beat his man and send a low cross into the six-yard box, where Atkinson came within inches of getting to the ball in a perfect position. Jamie Fullarton's charges continued to dig deep and just after the half-hour mark Jon Stead's ball into the six-yard was just too fast for the in-sliding Izale McLeod. The Pirates, however, would end the first half in front because, just a minute before half time, Montano skinned Atkinson before firing the ball past Scott Loach. How did you think Notts fared in the first half? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County and Bristol Rovers have met a grand total of 86 times over their history, with the first fixture coming on the 11th January 1913, a 2-0 win for the Pirates in the FA Cup at their former home ground, the Eastville Stadium. The Magpies have claimed 31 wins and 29 draws against Rovers, whilst falling to 26 defeats. The club was founded in 1883 as Black Arabs F.C., and were also known as Eastville Rovers and Bristol Eastville Rovers before finally changing its name to Bristol Rovers in 1899. The club's official nickname is The Pirates, reflecting the maritime history of Bristol. The local nickname of the club is The Gas, from the gasworks next to their former home Eastville Stadium, which started as a derogatory term used by fans of their main rival Bristol City but was affectionately adopted by the team. Rovers were admitted to the Football League in 1920 and have played there ever since, apart from spending the 2014–15 season in the Conference Premier. They previously came close to losing their league status in 1939, when they were re-elected after finishing bottom of Division Three (South), and in 2002 when the team finished one league position away from relegation to the Football Conference. Their highest finishing positions were in 1956 and 1959, on both occasions ending the season in 6th place in Division Two, then the second tier of English football. The only major cup competition won by Bristol Rovers is the 1972 Watney Cup, when they beat Sheffield United in the final. The club also won the Division Three (South) Cup in 1934–35, as well as winning or sharing the Gloucestershire Cup on 32 occasions. The team has never played in European competition; the closest Rovers came was when they missed out on reaching the international stage of the Anglo-Italian Cup in the 1992–93 season on a coin toss held over the phone with West Ham United. In the FA Cup, Rovers have reached the quarter-final stage on three occasions. The first time was in 1950–51 when they faced Newcastle United at St James' Park in front of a crowd of 62,787, the record for the highest attendance at any Bristol Rovers match. The second time they reached the quarter final was in 1957–58, when they lost to Fulham, and the most recent appearance at this stage of the competition was during the 2007–08 season, when they faced West Bromwich Albion. They were the first Division Three team to win an FA Cup tie away to a Premier League side, when in 2002 they beat Derby County 3–1 at Pride Park Stadium. They have twice reached the final of the Football League Trophy, in 1989–90 and 2006–07, but finished runners-up on both occasions. On the second occasion they did not allow a single goal against them in the competition en route to the final, but conceded the lead less than a minute after the final kicked off. Actor Nick Frost is a Bristol Rovers fan, with his character Danny Butterman seen wearing a club shirt in the 2007 film Hot Fuzz. The retired Conservative MP for Hayes and Harlington Terry Dicks, is also a Gas fan. He mentioned the club in parliament on 5 May 1994 when debating with Labour MP and Chelsea fan Tony Banks. --- Notts County midfielder Rob Milsom is the biggest concern for current manager Jamie Fullarton, after having limped out of the goal-less draw against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night. Should he not be fit, Liam Noble is likely to come into his place in the centre of midfield, having played as a second half substitute against the East London side. Scot Bennett is still working on his fitness and could be available again at Meadow Lane, having picked up a knock in the 2-0 win at Luton Town last month. Winger Will Hayhurst is still recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury and is almost certain to be out, while Stanley Aborah is unlikely to be selected following the public fallout between himself and the club this week. Fullarton also has a decision to make regarding the goalkeeper after he played Scott Loach on Tuesday, having opted to rest Roy Carroll. How do you think Notts will fare against Bristol Rovers? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Former Notts County goalkeeper Fabian Spiess has revealed how he turned down a trial at La Liga outfit Espanyol when he was 14 years old, a decision which eventually led to his signing for the Magpies. The 22-year-old, who currently plays for Boston United, was spotted at an amateur tournament in Dubai by Mick Leonard, who was County's academy manager at the time. Writing for the Lincolnshire Echo, Spiess said: "Just before me and my family were set to go to Dubai for a property search, I had the chance to go La Liga side RCD Espanyol for a trial. "However, I turned the trial down. I would never have gone to Barcelona at the age of 14, it was simply too big of a move and, therefore, I didn't believe it was worth going for the trial. "Some people would look back and think 'what if', but I would go crazy if every time I made a decision in life I thought 'if only I had done that'. "The decision to go to Dubai rather than attend a big tournament in Spain changed everything for me. "My stepdad's son was living in Dubai with his mother. He was playing for a local expat team, the equivalent of a Sunday league team. "Before we left he told me to bring my football boots and gloves because they needed a goalkeeper for their game on Saturday. "The game was at the Jebel Ali complex, a classy set-up where a lot of professional football teams go during their international breaks. "After the game, a gentleman who was standing on the side came up to me and my stepdad. He said he had been watching me during my warm-up with my stepdad and that he was very impressed with what he had seen. "His name was Mick Leonard, an ex-professional goalkeeper who had played in the Football League with Notts County and Chesterfield, among many others. "He invited us to come down on Monday to do a session with him. After the session he said he was very impressed with me and that I had all the right attributes and great potential to become a professional. "Mick was about to take on the job as academy director at Notts County. The youth set-up had been scrapped a few years before, but was being reopened and it was his job to fulfil this task. "He invited me to go to Nottingham and have a trial at Notts County." What do you make of Spiess' decision? Would you like to see him back at Meadow Lane? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County midfielder Stanley Aborah has given an interview to BBC Radio Nottingham admitting that he did ask to leave Notts County, but only after he felt frozen out of the squad by current manager Jamie Fullarton. The Magpies boss said the club had received correspondence from the midfielder's agent which confirmed he no longer wanted to stay at Meadow Lane because he had signed for previous manager Ricardo Moniz. Aborah has hit back at Fullarton's suggestion that he 'didn't want to play for the club' and explained his reasons for asking to leave. The Belgian said: "To me it's not a difficult situation. He came in. I was dropped. Therefore I asked him if he wanted me to leave. I said I don't have to leave but if I could find a club it's fine by him. "That's where we stood but I told him that as long as I was here I would do what he wanted me to do; fight hard for the club and do my best as I have done the previous months. "I asked him to leave because I felt I wasn't going to play. It has to be made clear; I didn't ask to leave because I wanted to leave. "I asked to leave because I knew from his actions the weeks before not being selected on the bench, not playing, he wasn't going to pick me. "It was strange. I fought hard to get a contract when I came in on trial. I did my best to be selected by the manager Ricardo, to do my best for the club. "Imagine my shock when I wasn't selected for the first three games (under Fullarton). "We spoke after a couple of games. I spoke with him and said, you're the manager, do what you have to do, but I want to play. "I can see I'm not going to play. Can I go somewhere else and play?" Aborah added that, although he had a good understanding with Moniz, he did not want to leave the club specifically after the Dutchman was sacked. "I came to Notts County to play for myself, not for Ricardo Moniz. I came here through Ricardo Moniz, that's all there is to it. "I have a very good understanding with Ricardo. If he goes to another club and there is the opportunity to go there then maybe I would take it. "If he goes to a club that isn't good for me I wouldn't go. Why would I put my livelihood at stake for one manager who gets sacked? It doesn't make sense." Aborah also hinted that Fullarton was a liar because of the reasons given to the media for the player’s absence. "The question gets asked to him after a game he doesn't say this. First he said he makes informed decisions or something like that. "Then he said I'm not available. That wasn't true. He said I was ill, for the York game. That's it. I was thrown under the bus yesterday. I was shocked." Aborah says he spoke to Fullarton on Monday prior to last night's goalless draw with Dagenham & Redbridge. He said: "It wasn't a good conversation. I don't want to do this through the media. I don't think it's right. I want to say basically it's a conversation to end my contract. "I want to play football. I want to play for Notts County. That's been taken away from me. If you can't get a chance here you go somewhere else where you can. "I want to play and do well. Maybe I can improve and get the chance to go to a higher level. That will benefit the club. The way I was playing for six months there was a chance to do that. "I think there are two sides to a story. Probably I could have done some things better. "I don't know what I have done to be in this situation. The manager got sacked, I was played against Oxford. "The new manager got appointed and I was out of the team. What's my fault in this?" In response, Notts issued a statement which read: "In a meeting between Jamie Fullarton and Stanley Aborah shortly after the manager had been appointed, Stanley expressed his desire to leave Notts County Football Club. "This was followed up by email correspondence to the club from Stanley's representative on 20th January which confirmed Stanley's desire to leave the football club. "It was the hope of the club & the manager that Stanley's position on this would change and he would be committed to contributing to the team. However, in a further meeting on 29th February Stanley again expressed his desire to leave the football club. "The club will be making no further comment." What do you think of Stanley's interview and the club's response? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County and Dagenham & Redbridge have met just nine times, and all the meetings have come in the last nine years. The first clash was back on 15 September 2007, when the Magpies beat the Daggers 1-0 at Meadow Lane in League Two. Last time round, on 29 September 2015, the East London side drew 1-1 against Notts at Victoria Road in the league. Notts are just ahead in terms of head-to-head, with four wins to their opponents’ three, plus two draws. Based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, the club was formed in 1992 through a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham. The club can trace back its ancestry to 1881 as Redbridge Forest was an amalgamation of three of the amateur game's most famous clubs, Ilford, Leytonstone and Walthamstow Avenue. Between the clubs they won the FA Trophy once, FA Amateur Cup seven times, Isthmian League 20 times, Athenian League six times, Essex Senior Cup 26 times and London Senior Cup 23 times. Tony Roberts, the club’s record appearance holder with 507 games over 10 years, is the only goalkeeper in the history of the FA Cup to have scored a goal from open play. He netted against Basingstoke Town in October 2001, a fourth qualifying round. The highest ever scoreline in the first leg of a play off game is now held by Dagenham & Redbridge, who defeated Morecambe 6–0 on 16 May 2010, although they could not build on this afterwards with a 2–1 defeat in the second leg. The Daggers also hold the record for highest scoring penalty shootout in professional football history, defeating Leyton Orient in the second round of the Football League Trophy 14–13, 27 penalties in total, on 8 September 2011. This was later equalled, but not bettered, by Liverpool who beat Middlesbrough in a League Cup penalty shoot out by the same score in September 2014. In addition, they hold the joint highest aggregate score in a League Cup match, with 12 – On 12 August 2014, Dagenham & Redbridge drew 6–6 after extra time at home with Brentford in the first round of the League Cup. They went on to lose 4–2 on penalties. -- Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has no new problems as his search for a first home win in charge continues against Dagenham & Redbridge. The Magpies fell to theit third straight defeat on Saturday, but the Scot has plenty of options at his disposal should he wish to make changes, with the likes of Alan Smith, Liam Noble, Graham Burke, Thierry Audel and Izale McLeod all starting on the bench at Plymouth Argyle. Defender Scot Bennett, meanwhile, has missed the last four games with injury and he will be checked on once more. Rock-bottom Dagenham, who are without a win since January 2 and on a five-game losing streak, remain without a trio of players. Midfielders Luke Guttridge and Frankie Raymond have missed three and two matches respectively due to ankle injuries that are set to keep them out for another month. Forward Zavon Hines, meanwhile, is a long-term absentee with a knee issue. How do you think Notts will get on against the Daggers? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County defender Haydn Hollis has called for the players, staff and fans to remain united in what he calls a “tough time for the club”. The Magpies have slipped to three defeats on the trot, while off the pitch, Ray Trew has resigned as chairman and put the club up for sale. Trew cited abuse from fans as a reason for his decision, which came just two days before the Magpies' 1-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle. Hollis told reporters: "I've been at the club since the chairman came in and he's been nothing but good with me. "As players we've just got to concentrate on the performances on the pitch and let the people at the top take care of everything else. "It is a tough time for the club, it's uncertain and I think everyone has got to come together – the players, the management, the fans. We've all got to be as one.” Discussing the Home Park defeat, Hollis added: "We're disappointed because I don't think they were much better than us, but when things are going against you they just fall against you. "It's always good for me if I'm playing well, but ultimately we need to pick up points and we haven't. I'd rather have an average performance and pick up points. "I feel confident. The new gaffer has come in and I've played every game under him so he's shown belief in me, but I still go in the changing room and sulk when we don't win. "It just wasn't to be so we've got to get ready for out next game (against Dagenham & Redbridge) on Tuesday now. We've got to forget about it, put it behind us and crack on.” Can Notts get a result against the Daggers? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has called on his attacking players to be more ruthless in front of goal following their defeat at Plymouth Argyle. The Scot felt his side created the best chances during Saturday’s League Two clash between the Pilgrims and the Magpies at Home Park. Jon Stead weighed in with a number of chances in County’s 1-0 loss, while Adam Campbell fired wide in the closing minutes of the first half. Fullarton told reporters: "It's disappointing (to lose) on the balance of play. The players are frustrated because they should have and could have got something better from it. "I think we had some very good opportunities in the game. I don't think there were many that I can recall of Plymouth opening us up other than the goal, which was a well-taken goal but also disappointing from our point of view. "So when we have such good opportunities, particularly in that first half, it's important that you take them, especially when you are playing against a team that is second in the league and at home." Speaking of Campbell’s spurned chance on 41 minutes, Fullarton added: "That's what happens sometimes. As I've said on many occasions, I won't criticise someone for missing chances. I think the most important aspect is that you continue to create chances and I felt we did that. “We've got to take positives from it. I think the players should. There is a level of frustration in the dressing room because they didn't get something from the game when we very much merited it, against a team that is sitting second in an automatic promotion position. "We're looking at progression, we're looking at those building blocks for us to kick on and that is a positive and now we really need to look at combining getting the points we merit to reflect how we played. "The worry and the concern come when you don't create chances and I think, away from home against a team that's in the position they are in, we created the best chances in the match." How do you rate the Magpies’ performance against Plymouth? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County fell to their third defeat in a row on Saturday as Plymouth Argyle's Graham Carey struck the only goal in their League Two fixture to secure all three points at Home Park and leave the Magpies empty-handed on the long trip back to Nottingham. Neither team was able to muster a proper chance until around 13 minutes in, when Jason Banton’s low driven cross fell to Jon Stead, who had a pot shot, but Hartley cleared the effort off the line. After Stead’s effort, both sides continued to go through the motions, but in the last five minutes of the half, Notts weighed in with two dangerous chances. First Elliott Hewitt let rip with a shot that Luke McCormick had to backpedal to palm away, then Adam Campbell fired just wide of the back post following Rob Milsom’s sumptuous through ball. The half-time whistle saw both sides go in level at the break, but just three minutes after the restart Carey pounced onto a loose ball in the box and drilled past Roy Carroll to put the Pilgrims ahead. Notts countered through a curling effort from Stead that sailed over the bar, before Oscar Threlkeld had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 to Plymouth, but scuffed his shot wide. Just before the hour Notts were in panic mode again after losing possession and allowing Craig Tanner to break quickly, but Carroll dived to his left and made the save. At the other end, Blair Adams forced a great save from McCormick after a pull-back by Ronan Murray, but despite two corners, his side was unable to make anything of it. Despite seven minutes of injury time at the end of the game, Plymouth were able to hold onto the win and secure all three points. What did you make of the performance and result? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

It is goalless at half time in the League Two clash between Plymouth Argyle and Notts County at Home Park. The first foray of the game fell to Argyle, as Craig Tanner headed straight at Roy Carroll in the opening minute of the match. Jamie Fullarton’s charges then countered through Jason Banton and Blair Adams down the left wing and made some headway in the opposition half. Neither team was able to muster a proper chance until around 13 minutes in, when Banton’s low driven cross fell to Jon Stead, who had a pot shot, but Hartley cleared the effort off the line. After Stead’s effort, both sides continued to go through the motions, but in the last five minutes, Notts weighed in with two dangerous chances. First Elliott Hewitt let rip with a shot that Luke McCormick had to backpedal to palm away, then Adam Campbell fired just wide of the back post following Rob Milsom’s sumptuous through ball. Nevertheless, it proved all square come the ref’s half-time whistle. What did you make of the first half? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the site, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Speculation has emerged that former Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Reading manager Steve Coppell is in line to become Jamie Fullarton’s assistant at Notts County. The 60-year-old was at the Magpies’ last home game against Leyton Orient, while Notts chief executive Julian Winter revealed Fullarton is "in dialogue" with somebody over the position. Asked directly if the person he is speaking to about the No.2 role is Coppell, Fullarton appeared to sidestep the question by replying: "It is important that we bring in people with the right skill set that complements and supplements what we already have in the building. "We have a lot of very good staff at the moment that bring something different. So that's our job over a period to assess and then hopefully add to what we have." Would you like to see Steve Coppell as Notts County’s assistant manager? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Notts County owner Ray Trew and Nottinghamshire businessman Alan Hardy have reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement allowing them to stage meaningful discussions over a potential takeover at Meadow Lane by the latter. The two men are said to be clashing over their respective valuations of the club, despite ongoing talks for two months, with Trew understood to be wanting between £8m and £10m for Notts. By allegedly signing the agreement, it would suggest that Hardy, who owns The Nottinghamshire Golf, Hotel & Country Club and is chief executive of Nottingham-based group Paragon, is a serious bidder. Under the terms of the agreement, neither individual can speak publicly about any talks between them, but should they eventually agree on a price, Trew can open the club's books to Hardy for him to carry out confidential due diligence with a view to completing a takeover. Magpies chief executive Julian Winter, meanwhile, said he had not met or spoken to Notts fan Hardy – it is understood the bidder has dealt directly with Trew from the start and will continue to do so going forward. Winter also suggested the process may be lengthy. He told local media: "I have been involved in these things and I have never seen a quick one. Don't get me wrong they do happen from time to time, but they are not the norm." Are you in favour of Trew leaving? What do you know about Alan Hardy and could he be a good fit for Notts? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Out-of-favour Notts County midfielder Stanley Aborah has not been told to find another club, according to manager Jamie Fullarton. The 28-year-old has not played since the Scot took charge at Meadow Lane last month, despite being a regular starter under former manager Ricardo Moniz. Aborah was rewarded with a new contract until the summer of 2017 on Christmas Day thanks to a series of performances that made him a fan favourite, but has not kicked a ball since their 4-2 home defeat against Oxford United on 2 January. When Fullarton was asked if he had told Aborah he can leave the club, the boss replied: "No, very much it's not the case. I've been consistent with my reply to it; he is part of the team, the club, and the squad. "We have a big squad, as you know, and he's available for selection. And what we feel is best to go and compete and win the game against Plymouth, I'll make that decision." Should Aborah be reinstated to the starting XI? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the site, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.