Former owner Keith Haslam's attitude towards safety work had often frustrated authorities - while many fans had been boycotting over his stewardship of the club.

That was highlighted when Chad reported on one avid fan who would not visit Field Mill last season, despite travelling from Australia.

However, all that has now changed as new owners Andy Perry, Andy Saunders and Steve Middleton prepare for the big kick-off . . .

Together with fans snapping up season tickets and helping to clean the stadium, and sponsors returning to the club, the Aussie-based supporter Peter Passant has ended his personal boycott - while safety officials have welcomed the new owners' 'positive attitude to safety'.

Peter will be back in England at the beginning of October and has pledged to attend the Woking game and 'will buy a programme, use the X-Bar and buy any raffle tickets that are on sale'.

Former Mansfield man Peter regularly travels to England from his home Down Under at least twice a year to see the Stags in action - but in February said he would no longer go to matches while Keith Haslam was in charge.

• Oz fan boycotts Mill

Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire County Council's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) - which has imposed various capacity restrictions over recent years - also notices a change in attitude at the club.

The current capacity level at the Mill is 7,416 fans (80%), including an away allocation of 1,527.

SAG chairman Sue Storey said: "We are encouraged by the positive attitude to safety that the new owners of Mansfield Town have shown. They are working hard to progress the issues of concern we highlighted to the previous management, such as stewarding and the need for a more proactive approach to safety by senior managers.

"We were encouraged by what we saw at a recent pre-season friendly match and we will continue to work with the club to help and support them in developing a safety culture at the ground."

More evidence of the new era at the Stags is the announcement that the players will be staying overnight ahead of Saturday's opening match of the season at Ebbsfleet.

Chairman Andy Perry told the club's official website mansfieldtown.net: "We felt that to continue our professional approach, giving the players the best possible preparation, we suggested that this first away game should also be an overnight stay."