Connell keen to stay at Magpies
CONNELL Rawlinson has made his intentions clear over his future at Notts County by insisting he wants to remain at Meadow Lane for a “long time.”
The defender has proven to be an outstanding signing by the Magpies having joined the club on a free transfer following his exit from Port Vale.
Last year he was considered Notts’ player of the season having played a key role in the heart of a back four that had the secondbest goals-against column in the division.
And the dependable centre-back, who has proven to be a hugely consistent performer again this season, says the Magpies are undoubtedly the best club he has played for in his career.
“I love it here,” he said. “It’s been my favourite club. I’ve had a career so far of 11 years and it’s my favourite place I’ve been as a footballer.
“The fans, the way they took to me personally, the stature of the club, I enjoy every minute of being around the people.
“I’d love to stay here for a long time and put 250-300 appearances up on the board, walk away and say I’ve had a great career at Notts County.
“What a big club to play for. But also, I want to finish what I started when I came here, which was to get the club back into the Football League.
“It’d be nice if this squad could do it this season because your name will be written into the history books as the first squad to get the world’s oldest professional club back into the Football League.
“It’s something for me that when you finish football, it’s all good looking at the money and the flash life but when you look back, you want to say I’ve got a little bit of history with a club with great history.
“I think of it every day. Imagine getting promoted last season and promoted this season and being the squad that did it. I think that’s what we need to believe in.”
Notts are hoping to have another crack at promotion to the EFL again this season having lost their Football League status at the end of a disastrous 2018-19 campaign.
But anxiety is mounting that Notts could miss out on the top seven after the club suffered its third successive defeat in the National League against Eastleigh at the weekend.
That saw them drop out of the top seven for the first time since January ahead of a crucial game against promotion rivals Torquay United this weekend.
Rawlinson says he can appreciate the growing concern among supporters but says the players are determined to come out swinging against the Gulls.
“I can understand where the fans are coming from,” he said.
“We’ve had three defeats on the bounce. It’s not great and we’re feeling that as well.
“But we’ve got a great opportunity on Saturday to go to Torquay and really show that we’ve got that character and belief.”