The 22-year-old is still under contract at the Stags after signing a three-year deal last summer - one of only a handful of players under contract beyond the end of this season.

On Thursday afternoon the club said it had reluctantly agreed to his request - placed on Wednesday afternoon - and 'offers are now invited'.

John-Baptiste has made more than 190 first team appearances for the Stags and is a product of their youth policy.

Earlier this week the defender said his future lay away from Field Mill.

• Bap set to quit Mansfield Town

But then on Wednesday the club was reported as dismissing the claims that the highly rated defender was for sale, saying: "None of the players' futures has been resolved and that will only happen when a manager has been appointed."

Manager Paul Holland, appointed until the end of the season, is still waiting to hear where his future lies, but he has said he wants to lead the fightback in the Blue Square Premier.

The players, too, are still waiting to hear if they will be offered new contracts - and it is believed that a meeting on Wednesday where they expected to hear a decision on their futures was cancelled.

Meanwhile, wingman Matt Hamshaw told the Lincolnshire Echo he would consider a move to the Lincoln City.

One of many Stags players who will be free agents in the summer and who have yet to hear if they will wanted at Field Mill next season, he told the Echo: "I've read that Lincoln are supposed to be interested, but I've had no contact with them.

"But if they did, then of course I'd be happy to talk. They are a good club, they are obviously a progressive club too in the fact they want to get out of the division.

"I want to move to a club where they are going to be challenging for success and with Peter Jackson there, you know he'll be doing all he can to get Lincoln promoted.

"He's a good manager, he's managed at a high level and most players would love to play for him, because he always seems to get the best out of them.

"You only have to look at what he has done in the past to see that. I don't live too far away either so Lincoln would not be far for me to travel at all."