From Nottingham Evening Post



Hartlepool are also still in the hunt to sign Barker.

"If I do play against Hartlepool then I will go out and give everything for Mansfield, as I have always tried to do while I've been here," said Barker.
"I have heard nothing, although that could change quickly. I have only read what is in the newspapers. "Unless I am told anything different then I am a Mansfield player but I think with the way things are, if I am being truthful, there is a chance that something might happen. "But I have certainly never put any pressure on anyone to move and I have never wanted to leave.

"As Peter Shirtliff said when he was here, you only have people interested in signing you if you are doing things right." Barker admits the constant speculation has made it hard to concentrate on his football. He said: "It is difficult when you don't know where you are going to be from one day to the next but when the game kicks off then you do know where you are. "Once the game is on, then that is the only thing on my mind. I do the best that I can and I would like to think people appreciate that."

Boss Billy Dearden is keen to see the Stags' top scorer, with 15 goals, stay at the club but knows a move could be on the cards. He said: "Richie is a professional and I would expect him to play as such while he is at the club - as he did against Accrington. "I don't know what his future is because last time a move was in the offing I wasn't here and I had no dealings with it. "I'm hoping he will be available for us against Hartlepool and Richie is preparing as if he is expecting to play.

"I obviously want Richie to stay, but if he does go then I would expect at least three quarters of the fee we got for him to bring in a suitable replacement."