But the controversial chief executive has still left the door open for the consortium - which had imposed a noon deadline for a decision on its offer - to takeover the football club in the future.
Worried fans had always thought that Mr Haslam would not make a sale decision before Sunday's FA Cup Second Round televised tie at Harrogate Railway - because of the £75,000 windfall from the match being televised live on the BBC and the possibility of a glamour Third Round tie with a Premiership club.
On Thursday Mr Haslam, rejecting the consortium's offer, said that yesterday he had asked for written terms to be put forward, but the consortium was unwilling or unable to comply and instead imposed the deadline.
He added in his lunchtime statement: "I cannot respond to an offer that is not clear in its terms and is not in writing.
"I am still willing to reach a deal and I am happy to work with Mr Derry, but I can not respond to a verbal offer when even that seems to be moving on a daily basis.
"I have to leave it to Mr Derry to decide what he now wants to do. I won't be making any further comment until after the weekend and the focus should now turn to the FA Cup game on Sunday against Harrogate Railway which is a very big game for the football club."
Mr Derry, who had said the consortium would walk away if there was no decision today, told Chad he would respond to the offer rejection fully once he had fully considered Mr Haslam's statement.
- Full James Derry reaction
He said: "Keith has not rejected our offer per se, he says he still wants clarification on certain points.
"But as it stands the differences look fairly terminal. We will try to work through it, though."
Mr Derry also said that he would be considering his position as chairman of the club over the weekend before coming to any decision.
The latest news followed dramatic developments in the sale saga on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
First Mr Haslam called on the consortium to give him more information and confirmation that they had the necessary funding for the club 'to survive and prosper'.
- New Haslam statement on takeover
Then Mr Derry, who agreed a deal at the beginning of October which then had to be revised after Football League intervention and the process of due diligence, hit back.
He gave the chief executive some of the information he had requested and issued an ultimatum: 'Make a decision by noon on Thursday or we will withdraw our offer'.
- High noon in Stags takeover
Mr Derry, who had seen two previous deadlines - last Friday and yesterday - pass by, told Chad: "This cannot keep dragging on . . . we must know or we will walk away'.
Today's announcement also followed a make-or-break meeting on Monday of last week between the consortium and Mr Haslam, at which the local businessmen made their final, revised offer.
Afterwards Mr Haslam insisted to Chad in an exclusive interview that he didn't want to be at the football club anymore.
- I don't want to be here anymore
- I will make sale decision next week
The length of time the sale negotiations have been going on has worried many fans and even Mansfield MP Alan Meale called the delay 'disturbing' in an
exclusive Chad interview last week.
Manager Bill Dearden also spoke of his worries and the effect it was having on the club.
- Dearden frustration at takeover delay
The saga began on 5th October when Mr Derry and Mr Haslam agreed a deal for the club to change hands.
But problems then followed as the Football League insisted that the takeover plans be altered.
Mr Derry's consortium had wanted to form its own company and just take over the trading rights for the football club - leaving Mr Haslam to retain Field Mill and any associated land.
However, then the consortium had to try to buy the football club, with a 10-year lease to rent Field Mill from Mr Haslam who would continue to own the stadium.
Fears over having to possibly repay a Football Foundation grant, donated for the transformation of Field Mill at the turn of the century, also added to the confusion recently.
- Stags takeover consortium aware of grants worries
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