Former Stag Buxton now thriving at Burton

IT has been an up and down last few months in the career of Jake Buxton, but right now, things could hardly be better.

The defender was loathe to leave Mansfield in the summer, but quickly departed the scene when Billy McEwan was installed as manager.

He chose to move just down the A38 to Burton, meaning he could stay in his Sutton-in-Ashfield home.

But at first things did not go swimmingly for Buxton, who missed the opening of the season through suspension and then picked up an injury.

And even when he did get into the side, his performances did not immediately win over the expectant Burton fans.

However, slowly but surely, Buxton has found his feet in the Blue Square Premier to such a degree that he was named Blue Square player of the month for November.

The 23-year-old's blossoming performances have coincided with an upturn in Albion's form and they have stormed to the top of the table with the help of nine consecutive victories on home soil.

Buxton says that the fact he is enjoying life so much at the Pirelli Stadium has convinced him he made the right choice to leave Field Mill after some initial doubts, although he still has plenty of feeling for his former club.

"At the moment, where the two teams are in the league has made it look a decent decision to leave," he said.

"But I felt it was not right to stay at Mansfield anyway. I didn't think the majority of fans wanted me to stay and there was also a change of manager and ownership and I felt it was the right time to go.

"People didn't realise that I was 23 when I left and I felt I needed to move for the sake of my career.

"I could have stayed but I needed a new challenge to get me going and I took a pay cut at Burton to do it.

"I was struggling when I first signed for Burton and when Mansfield went top of the league I thought for a moment 'what have I done here.'

"My knee was playing up and I still had a hangover from the season before. Then I got back in the side and we have also started to do well and we have climbed the league as Mansfield slipped down.

"But I still look for the Stags' results straight away. They still have a big part to play in my life. I still live in the area and I want then to do well."

When Burton beat Mansfield 1-0 at the Pirelli Stadium in October, Buxton came under fire from the visiting fans.

Nevertheless, the player is still relishing his first appearance at Field Mill since departing in July.

Buxton said: "It is a massive game for not only myself but also the club. When I looked at the fixtures coming out, the return to Mansfield was the first one I looked for.

"I got quite a lot of criticism from the Stags fans when we played them at home and I accept that, but I always gave 100% when I played for them.

"It threw me for about the first five minutes but then I had to get on with it and do my job."

Buxton has been keeping a close eye on Mansfield's progress this season and feels a lot of their problems have stemmed from their points deduction and perhaps a lack of respect for the Blue Square Premier.

"The four-point deduction might not seem a lot but it dropped them from fifth or sixth to about 14th," said Buxton.

"It doesn't have an effect physically, but it is mentally draining and I'm not sure how Billy McEwan coped with that with regard to his team.

"I think a lot of the lads at Mansfield may have thought that this league is not a good standard and the club may have had a hangover from last year.

"The impression people get is this is a poor league but at Burton not one player thinks it is a poor standard."

Buxton believes Paul Holland, not McEwan, should have been handed the Mansfield manager's job in the summer – because the former assistant boss would have put his faith in youth.

Buxton said: "I think Mansfield have come to the position where they haven't got £100,000 and £2,000 a week to spend on players. They have to start building again.

"That's why I think Paul Holland might have been the right choice as manager. He had been involved with the youth system and cared about the club.

"Oxford have found it hard and it took Exeter five seasons to get back up. I think Mansfield have got to turn to their youth instead of bringing in those from outside who have been around a long time.

"I know they have said they are looking for someone with a lot of non-league experience this time, which is a great idea.

"Mansfield have had a couple of decent wins over Christmas and I still think they have enough good players to finish in mid-table so long as they bring in the right new manager."

matthew.halfpenny@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk