Mansfield boss Nigel Clough admitted it was “devastating” to not make the play-offs despite winning 2-0 at Colchester on the final day of the season.
The Stags ended up finishing level on 75 points with Salford, who lost 1-0 at Gillingham, but it was the Ammies who claimed seventh spot due to having a better goal difference of one. Carlisle and Bradford both finished one point ahead after drawing on Monday.
Riley Harbottle gave Mansfield the lead in first-half stoppage time when he headed home Davis Keillor-Dunn’s free-kick, after Tom Dallison had controversially been penalised for a foul on Will Swan midway inside the Colchester half.
And substitute James Gale wrapped up victory in the seventh minute of stoppage time with a low finish from Lucas Akins’ pass but ultimately it was to no avail for the visitors, who were beaten in last season’s play-off final.
Clough said: “It’s devastating. A total of 75 points normally gets you in the play-offs.
“We were keeping an eye on what was going on elsewhere but it wasn’t to be.”
Despite the final-day disappointment though, the former Sheffield United and Derby boss insists there is plenty to build on from this campaign and says he knows what areas they will need to work on for next term.
He added: “We’ve conceded too many silly goals over the course of the season.
“We know exactly where we need to improve.
“There are absolutely tons of positives for us to take into next season.
“To get to 75 points in a season and to within one goal (of the play-offs) I think is an achievement in itself.
“It gives you so much encouragement when you see what we’ve had to deal with and we just can’t wait to get going again.
“It definitely hurts even more, knowing what we could have achieved with a fully fit squad. To get so close, within one goal, is really tough to take.
“We can’t wait for the first ball to be kicked, next season.”
Colchester finished 20th in League Two, after Ben Garner successfully led them away from relegation danger.
Garner said: “I thought we should have got something from the game.
“It was another pleasing performance against a side who missed out on the play-offs by a goal, in terms of long terms of the game I
thought we were the better side.
“I’m really pleased with the effort from everyone since I came in through the door.
“I think the season is probably finishing at the right time now, in terms of mission accomplished.
“We’ve done what we set out to do when we came in and now we’ve got an opportunity to reshape the squad a little bit, build on the good core players that are here.
“We don’t want to be where we are in the table, next season – we want to be pushing for promotion.
“Looking at the teams coming in, both from below and dropping down, it’s going to be a really tough league next season so we have to work hard in the summer to make sure we’re in a strong place.”
Juventus and Pogba agree to terminate contract
Juventus and Paul Pogba have agreed to the mutual termination of the midfielder's contract after he was banned over a failed drugs test.
The 31-year-old will complete his suspension in March after testing positive for DHEA in September 2023, a banned substance that boosts testosterone levels.
He was initially banned for four years, only for his punishment to be reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in October.
Despite that reduction, Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli recently cast doubt on Pogba's chances of representing the Bianconeri again, and he has now been released by the club.
Pogba had a contract with Juventus to run until June 2026, but he will now train in Miami in the hope of finding a new club before his suspension ends.
"The club wishes Paul all the best for his professional future," Juventus said in a statement.
Pogba added in a statement of his own: "It has been a privilege to pull on the shirt of the Bianconeri and to share so many special moments together.
"I cherish the memories we made. They live on.
"Even in the most difficult moments over the past year, your support was crucial and I want to thank Juve fans around the world for their compassion.
"I am looking forward to the next chapter of my career and to stepping out on the pitch with my next club."
Injuries limited Pogba to just 162 minutes in five appearances across the 2022-23 season, his first campaign back in Turin after leaving Manchester United.
He then played a total of 51 minutes as a substitute before being suspended last season, reportedly agreeing to take a substantial pay cut while ineligible to represent the club.
New Man Utd boss Amorim says he must win to be afforded time
New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said he will need to win matches in order to earn time and create his own identity at the club.
The Portuguese tactician, who left Sporting CP to become Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford, was speaking during his first interview with the Premier League club.
"We know that we need time, but we have to win time. To win time is to win games. But the most important thing for me is identity. So since day one we will start with our identity," the 39-year-old said.
"Of course we are going to prepare the games, but we will focus a lot in our game model. How to play, how to press, these small things, small details.
"You cannot go 100% on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. So if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, is identity."
Amorim is the seventh different manager to take charge of the club since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 and will face a trip to Ipswich Town in the league on 24 November on his United debut.
But the former Portugal international added that having a young squad will not be an excuse if he fails to get the desired results in the short term.
"I don't want to say that we need time because we are a young team. They are prepared. They are prepared to cope with the demands of playing for United. They should be because they are here," Amorim said.
"We know it will take time, but we have to start since day one without fear, without thinking that they are not used to playing like this. They will start on the first day with our idea, no matter what. That's the goal."
New Manchester United boss Amorim says he needs to win to be afforded time
New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that he will need to win matches in order to win time and create his own identity at the club.
The Portuguese tactician, who left Sporting CP to become Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford, was speaking during his first interview with the Premier League club.
"We know that we need time, but we have to win time. To win time is to win games. But the most important thing for me is identity. So since day one we will start with our identity," the 39-year-old said.
"Of course we are going to prepare the games, but we will focus a lot in our game model. How to play, how to press, these small things, small details."
"You cannot go 100% on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. So if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, is identity," he said.
Amorim is the seventh different manager to take charge of the club since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 and will face a trip to Ipswich Town in the league on 24 November on his United managerial debut.
But the former Portugal international also added that having a young squad will not be an excuse for not getting the desired results in the short term.
"I don't want to say that we need time because we are a young team. They are prepared. They are prepared to cope with the demands of playing for United. They should be because they are here," Amorim said.
"We know it will take time, but we have to start since day one without fear, without thinking that they are not used to playing like this. They will start on the first day with our idea, no matter what. That's the goal."
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