It was revealed this afternoon for the first time that it was an offer from his consortium of businessmen which came so close to securing the Stags two weeks ago.

• Stags takeover almost happened on Friday

That offer stalled at the last minute when one of the group's financial backers pulled out on the morning of Friday 29th February, the day the buyout was due to be signed.

• Listen to the Chad panel talk about the dramatic developments on the latest edition of Stags Talk. Click here for our audio show

And in a joint statement issued on Thursday, club chief executive Stephen Booth and Mr Derry revealed that the consortium made a second attempt to buy the club this morning - but this was again scuppered by a financial backer getting cold feet.

But the businessman has not given up on his takeover dream - and is now appealing for local businessmen to 'stand up and be counted' and join his consortium for a fresh push to buy the club.

• Read the full statement here.

• VIDEO: Derry deal could be concluded quickly

Mr Derry, the non executive chairman of the Stags, was brought into the club by controversial owner Keith Haslam 14 months ago.

• Would-be Stags owner calls on businessmen to back takeover bid

Last summer he launched a bid to buy the club and thought he had secured a deal on 5th October.

• Stags takeover news centre

That eventually fell through at the beginning of December after a war of words between Mr Haslam and Mr Derry, but Mr Derry remained at the club and formed a new consortium.

• Haslam rejects consortium's offer

At the same time, Mr Haslam stepped down from running the club and appointed chief executive Stephen Booth to take charge of the day-to-day affairs at Field Mill and also find a buyer.

Mr Booth is also in negotiations with other parties, but says their bids are not as far advanced as the Derry deal.

Chad revealed this week that we have spoken to two other parties also in negotiations to buy the football club.

• Chad tracks down two groups in talks to buy Stags