Notts captaincy reshuffles no distraction - Maynard

Kyle Cameron, Macaulay Langstaff and Matt Palmer were all part of the Notts County side that won promotion from the National League in 2023

Notts County's repeated captaincy reshuffle this summer has not impacted the League Two side, insists head coach Stuart Maynard.

The Magpies have had three players in the role since the end of last season, with prolific striker Macauley Langstaff named as Kyle Cameron's replacement in June when the defender left on loan for St Johnstone, only for Matt Palmer to take Langstaff's place in July after the forward was sold to Millwall.

When asked if going through three captains so quickly was a distraction for the players, Maynard told BBC Radio Nottingham: "No, not at all."

Maynard also dismissed the notion that Langstaff was named skipper earlier in the summer as an incentive not to leave the club.

"It wasn’t to convince him to stay," the Notts boss said.

"It had to be some club and some offer for him to go, so I don’t think we needed to incentivise him."

Midfielder Palmer was appointed vice-captain to Langstaff in June, but within a month was elevated to skipper to replace the striker after his move to Championship side Millwall.

Like Langstaff and Cameron, Palmer was part of the Notts side that sealed promotion from the National League with a play-off final win against Chesterfield in May 2023.

He was an instrumental figure as Notts topped the League Two table early last season, only for his campaign to be cut short by a knee injury suffered against Wrexham in October.

Maynard said Palmer was a ready-made captain when thrust into the job.

He explained: "Matt Palmer coming in to be our captain this season is another one like Macca [Langstaff] - the quality he possesses on the pitch everyone knows about, but as a human being off the pitch, he is incredible.

"The way he conducts himself, the way everyone respects him, we know we have ourselves a real leader."