A BROWSE through social media this afternoon confirmed to Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens that striker Nicky Maynard had been poached by Mansfield Town.

Maynard met with Wellens a fortnight ago, but the financial package that the Town boss could offer wasn’t as strong as the Stags’ lure.

The same applies to Plymouth Argyle forward Danny Mayor, who followed Ryan Lowe to Devon amid financial woes for recently promoted Bury.

Adding a striker to his squad remains Wellens’ priority with less than five weeks remaining until Town face Scunthorpe on the opening day of the Football League season.

He is also in search of a winger, and a holding midfielder – who will fill the void left by Danny Rose, who has been ruled out of action until mid-August through injury.

Maynard’s arrival at Mansfield Town was announced via a video on social media that saw chief executive Carolyn Radford pick the 32-year-old up from Faro airport in Portugal.

Town’s 39-year-old saw the funny side of the situation.

“Myself picking him up from Manchester airport in the company car isn’t as glamorous,” said Wellens.

“I’m still on the lookout for a striker, we need to add goals to the team. I think last night proved – in terms of our full backs – that things look positive.

“Zeki Fryers cruised through the game (at Brimscombe and Thrupp) at centre half. I was going to play three at the back tonight until Tom (Broadbent) pulled out.

“The core of the team is strong, but we need goals now. I want a winger too, ideally I’d like five more.”

In addition to wanting five more players, Wellens is looking to sell two players. 

Should he manage to offload both men, money will be invested back into the squad to purchase a number 10 type player or winger.

And Kyle Bennett falls into that bracket.

“There are two players that I want to move on,” confirmed Wellens.

“I’ve told them that, and if we can move them on then it opens us up financially and I’ll have a bigger margin to work with.

“Two strikers I would like – one on loan, one permanent. I want a number 10 / winger- Kyle Bennett fits into that.

“And with Danny Rose’s injury we might look at the holding midfield, I still think in terms of bodies in central midfield we are a little bit light.”