Richard Cooper is an ex Nottingham Forest youngster who had three appearances for the Reds between 1998 and 2001 before carving out a career at York City and in the lower leagues before regularly featuring in Non-League football with local clubs like Alfreton Town and Eastwood Town to name a couple you should know.<\/p>\n
The 41 year-old former England youth international and coach of Mansfield Town has been asked by his bosses (the Radford’s) in charge to take care of looking after the first-team following the dismissal of Graham Coughlan on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
Cooper replaces Coughlan as interim Mansfield Town manager and has the immediate task of setting up a side to face Walsall at the weekend with a first win of the season very much on the cards for the \u2018new\u2019 man in charge.<\/p>\n
The temporary gaffer stated ahead of his first game at the One Call Stadium tomorrow \u201cI think it\u2019s all about the players at this moment in time for us. We have to build their confidence and try to put some self-belief in them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are good players in that dressing room. We\u2019ll just try to get the best out of those lads and get a positive result on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cooper said \u201cI\u2019m sat here because someone has lost their job, which is not nice. I\u2019ve been asked to do a job now to try and steady the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s our only thought now, to try and get a positive performance on Saturday. We\u2019ve looked back over Walsall\u2019s recent games and we\u2019re trying to prepare the players in the best way we can for Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mansfield striker Nicky Maynard stated on Graham Coughlan\u2019s departure \u201cThe lads feel responsible for what\u2019s happened. Results haven\u2019t been good enough and the lads haven\u2019t put the performances in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a fresh start now \u2013 we need to wipe the slate clean and go again. We have to remain positive, brave and stick together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Stags face Walsall tomorrow but will do so without Ryan Sweeney who is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus, Mal Benning is also out as is Corey O\u2019Keefe both finishing isolation periods whilst Joe Riley and Ollie Clarke have longer term injuries.<\/p>\n