Richardson was first linked with the role by Chad.co.uk a week ago, but his arrival was confirmed on Monday evening - after he had watched the Stags in action over recent weeks.

• Coach Richardson to return to Stags?

A former player, he was assistant manager at Field Mill when Stuart Watkiss was manager.

He told the club's official website mansfieldtown.net on Monday evening: "It is nice to be back. From what I remember this was a great club.

"I want to see the club back where it should be. We are under no illusions of the task ahead, but we shouldn't be in this league - it is as simple as that."

Talking of his time at the club before with Watkiss, Richardson - who has been doing scouting work for Spurs recently - said: "It is the full-time, day-to-day stuff which is the big draw, at Tottenham it was just part-time. This is a fantastic opportunity.

"It is a totally new rebuilding process, which the manager has done before. He knows the division inside out. We are under no illusions, this is a hard league to get out of."

Richardson's interest a coaching role was confirmed to Chad by manager Billy McEwan on Thursday when he said: "I know we are short and Neil is just one of two or three I've spoken to. But no decision has been taken yet."

• Richardson is candidate for coaching role

And on Monday McEwan told the club's official website mansfieldtown.net: "I am delighted Neil has joined us. I'm sure he will be a valuable asset to the short and long-term future of the club.

"Neil will be taking charge of the reserve team and will be coming along with me to first team games. And, like most coaches at this level, he will be multi-tasking, which will include watching various players and opponents."

Richardson's arrival means he is rejoining McEwan's management team, having worked with the new Stags boss as youth coach when McEwan was manager at York City - ironically the Stags' opponents in tomorrow night's live TV game.

He added: "I had a great year here (with Stuart Watkiss) when we got promoted, great crowds which we hope to bring back.

"The boys have done well, to win four out of six games is a fantastic start. For a bunch of lads who have only been together for less than a couple of months it is a fantastic start, they must take a lot of credit."

Talking of the decision this season to field a reserve team in a competitive league, Richardson added: "It is great that the club has taken the reserves on, it helps the young lads to come through. You learn so much more from playing reserve team football against pros, week in week out. You just learn a heck of a lot from that. Hopefully in a few months the youth team players will be pushing for the first team."

Click here for full audio interview with the new reserve coach at mansfieldtown.net