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Thursday, 28th August 2008

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AUDIO: Would-be Stags owner Batchelor turned away from Mansfield Town match



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Email Tim Morriss

THE unpopular John Batchelor, bidding to buy Mansfield Town, was turned away from the club's gates ahead of Saturday afternoon's match with Shrewsbury.
Stewards and police blocked his entrance to the Field Mill car park on the instructions of the club, who had said on Friday he would not be welcome.

  • To listen to an interview with Batchelor as he tried to enter the ground, by Sky Sports' Dave Bracegirdle and Chad's Tim Morriss, click on the green play icon


Batchelor protested that he wanted to watch the match, the club he intends to own.

And he lashed out at Stags' chief executive Stephen Booth, whom he blames for the current impasse in his takeover talks.

Batchelor again said that he did not mind that the fans are against him, calling them 'fickle', and insisted that he is determined to complete an agreement with Stags owner Keith Haslam.

But after making his point to the stewards, police and waiting media, Batchelor drove off back to his Burnley home.

  • Batchelor banned from Mansfield Town


However, he vowed to return next Saturday, for the home match against Rotherham, and pledged to 'try to watch every Mansfield match until I become the owner'.

The police told him they could not guarantee his safety outside the ground and asked him to move on.

And he suffered some abuse from fans entering the ground for the match, who made it clear that he is not wanted at Field Mill by supporters.

Safety officer Les Norman had told Chad they made the decision to ban the would-be owner because they could not guarantee his safety following incidents at the Macclesfield match a week earlier.

Twenty minutes into that match, police and stewards had to remove him from the Stags fans at Moss Rose 'for his own safety', after confrontations between the wannabe Stags owner and supporters - supporters angry at his high profile campaign to take over the club and rename it after fictional TV team Harchester United.

Mr Batchelor had wanted access to the directors area this Saturday, saying that he wanted to avoid a confrontation with fans similiar to the much publicised furore at Macclesfield.

But when the unconventional Mr Batchelor was refused a hospitality ticket for the match against Shrewsbury, the controversial businessman insisted he would still go to the match and pay through the turnstiles.


He added: "The only reason I am being refused admittance is because of Stephen Booth. He knows I will fire him the moment I take over.

"Stephen Booth has been tasked with selling the club yet he is getting in the way."


The full article contains 462 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 20 April 2008 11:19 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Mansfield
 
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1

serbian hitman,

19/04/2008 16:15:17
John, some1 could have got seriously hurt in the crush to give you a paggering,Stop being a p---k and go away.Every1 is sick of your desperate attempt to get as much newspaper space as you can.Your so far up your own backside you'll soon disapear.We hope,
2

whoknows,

19/04/2008 17:20:00
Can we please just forget this t**ser.
Today is about Mansfield Town NOT John Batchelor.
Lets not give the safety group any reason to drop us down to 50% AGAIN.
3

Adamr999,

19/04/2008 17:48:28
Forget this looser stop making articles about him he deserves nothing we should be talking about stags winning!
4

whoknows,

19/04/2008 17:55:25
What a game a adam.
Great to see the crowd behind the team.


5

Geezer,

Kiev 19/04/2008 18:10:50
Great result. The great escape moves on. Big shout going out to Rotherham.

Well done to the local dibble for 'ensuring' the sagety of a completely unwanted Berkley Hunt.

Keep it going Stags
6

serbian hitman,

19/04/2008 18:24:00
Every time this moron turns ups he takes the emphasis away from the football,which just what he wants.Keep supporting your team and try to ignore the CONMANN
7

Adamr999,

19/04/2008 18:54:30
Also how about chad stops calling him would-be owner when hes not had any proper bids acepted/declined he isnt anywhere near buying so stop calling him that!
8

whoknows,

19/04/2008 19:39:09
Would-be Stags owner Batchelor turned away from Mansfield Town match or how about... t**s pot Batchelor turned away from Mansfield Town match

even better just don't talk about him.
9

Red,

19/04/2008 19:54:22
poor carbon footprint practice Mr Batchelor.
10

Mr Banana,

20/04/2008 11:28:27
Clown
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