Mansfield Town

Experienced centre-back says small close-knit squad means everyone has a role to play.

Defender John Dempster believes everyone in our squad has a key part to play this term ahead of our Sky Bet League Two curtain-raiser at Northampton Town.

Our players make the 75-mile trip to the Sixfields Stadium on the back of an eye-catching pre-season campaign, which has seen us play well and win four out of six matches.

Nevertheless, tomorrow’s opponents will be determined to ‘kick on’ this time around, having only escaped relegation following victory over Oxford United on a nail-biting final day last season.

“It’ll be a tough game for us, but our preparations have been spot on and we’re ready for the game,” said the 31-year-old, who featured on 40 occasions in 2013/14.

“Few people will give us a chance, but we’re confident that we can go there and get a result.”

Dempster continued: “We’ve had an excellent pre-season and have given ourselves the ideal chance of starting well. The squad may be smaller, but the quality is there. We’ve seen it in pre-season and I see it every day in training.

“Players come and go and that’s part and parcel of football. What’s important is that Mansfield Town move on and bring in good new signings and that’s what we’ve done.

“We now have a more tight-knit squad and the new lads have fitted in well, both on and off the pitch.

“There is excellent competition for places in the defensive areas and we’ll all be working together as a unit to get the best for Mansfield Town.

“This season, every player in the squad is going to play their part. Whoever doesn’t start against Northampton will have to be professional and be ready to come in and take their chance when it comes.”

You can hear a full interview with John Dempster on Stags Player. To subscribe, click here.