MANSFIELD Town are hoping to be quick out of the blocks when the new season gets underway – and they have the perfect coach to help them achieve that.
Six Stags players are this week receiving training from four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson at St George's Park in Burton.
Strikers Matt Rhead, Ollie Palmer and Alex Fisher, plus Ryan Tafazolli, Liam Marsden and Jack Thomas are all being coached by the American, who managed an Olympic double in 1996, winning gold in the 400 metres and 200m, as well as topping the podium at the 1992 Games (4x400m relay) and 2000 Olympics (400m).
"This training camp, put on by Michael Johnson, will include coaching in areas such as fitness, power and speed. It's a massive positive for us," said Mansfield boss Paul Cox.
"In terms of speed, if you can't learn from Michael Johnson, then who can learn you learn from?"
Johnson racked up a record of 13 Olympic and World Championship gold medals during his 11-year career and broke world records in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay.
He recorded the fastest time ever clocked by a human, running 23mph on his way to a world record time of 19.32 seconds in the 200m.
The week-long training programme for the Stags sextet came about through the contacts of physio Chris Bowman.
Following their spell at St George's Park, the players will link-up with the rest of the squad when pre-season begins on Monday.
Teenagers Marsden and Thomas have both signed new deals at Mansfield, after making their first-team debuts last season.
"It's really positive news for the club that we have two local boys on board who have done well and earned the right for another contract," said Cox, who has given Lindon Meikle and Anthony Howell until the end of this week to make decisions on their contract offers.
"The hard work now starts for them and we're expecting good things from them."
"They'll be in the squad of 20 players next season, with the same pressure as everyone else. Both are good boys with a good mindset and hopefully both can 'hit the ground running' in pre-season."
