On Monday evening Mr Derry revealed to Chad that he had still not given up hope of his consortium taking over at Field Mill.

Last week Stags owner Keith Haslam rejected a revised offer for the football club from the group of businessmen.

• Haslam rejects consortium offer

That prompted a wave of protests from fans and left the consortium's head, Mr Derry, considering the future of the bid and his role as chairman at MTFC over the weekend.

But on Monday Mr Derry told Chad: "I have decided, for the short-term, to stay as chairman. Some people have been saying I should walk away, others have said I should stay.

"If I go there would be an even bigger rift between Keith (Haslam) and myself, so I am staying for now - but not indefinitely.

"I believe that Keith will go, I believe that he wants to go, I believe that he needs to go for the good of the football club.

"Now I need to meet him and try to see if we can still thrash a deal out.

"And it would be better if I was still at the club while trying to sort out a deal."

Mr Derry added: "Keith says there are other people out there interested in taking over the club. If so, I would urge them to come forward and see if we can join together.

"If that means I am not chairman, then so be it. I just want what is best for the football club - I want Mansfield Town FC to move forward."

The would-be owner added that he could 'fully understand' the frustrations of fans over the takeover saga.

Mr Derry told Chad: "I have heard talk of boycotts at the ground and I can understand the feelings and frustrations.

"They feel that this is a way of putting pressure on Keith and I suppose it will.

"Sadly, of course, it will mean that some money is lost to the club forever."