Mr Haslam was given a deadline of Friday to respond to a final offer from James Derry's consortium as the saga over the protracted sale of the club rumbles on – with MP Alan Meale today calling the delay disturbing.

But in an exclusive interview with the club's website www.mansfieldtown.net, Mr Haslam said: "I am having meetings in connection with this today (Thursday) and on Friday. But I don't think I will be making a decision this side of the weekend, so it will be next week.

"I can't put a time on it, but this is moving on. I can't be moving any quicker."

Mr Haslam repeated his assurances made in an exclusive Chad interview earlier this week that he is trying to sell the Stags – but criticised the actions of some fans for encouraging supporters to boycott matches.

The Derry consortium presented its revised offer to Mr Haslam on Monday after completing the process of due diligence, which revealed financial problems the group of businessmen had previously been unware of.

Their offer has been reduced from the deal agreed in principle by Mr Derry and Mr Haslam at the beginning of October - Mansfield Town takeover - because the Football League insisted it purchase the club rather than forming a new company.

Mr Haslam told the club's press officer Mark Stevenson: "A fresh offer – a revised offer - was made on Monday (by the consortium) so no-one can expect me to turn round and accept it without considering it and making a valued judgment.

"I am aware that it is James' final offer, but it has quite significantly dropped. Enough to make me think. We did accept the first bid (in October) but this has changed since."

Mr Haslam insisted that he is actively trying to sell the club, adding: "I can assure supporters I am trying to procure the sale of the football club at the earliest convenience.

"Whether this (James Derry's) is the right deal, I can't say at the moment. But I do have several alternatives and I am having meetings on Friday to discuss them.

"People I need to speak to are not always available at the drop of a hat, so then things take time.

"I can understand the fans want an early resolution to see where the club is going. I do!

"I want to see the club move forward and prosper, but it will take a lot of work for all parties to move the club forward – business, the community, local authorities, the fans to get behind the club.

"I understand the concerns of supporters, but people can't have it all ways.

"Yes, the club is losing money. Why? Because the supporters are not coming through the turnstiles.

"Certain elements were encouraging people not to come. What has that achieved? Maybe James Derry reconsidering his offer.

"In a perverse way actions by certain people to try to force me out have kept me here longer than I wanted to stay."

Talking about the revised offer from the Derry consortium, the chief executive went on: "It is not our side that is holding this up. We have rejigged five different ways forward which have been rebuffed by James Derry.

"Really this is the first offer we have had apart from the agreed one (in October) which has now dramatically changed.

"In mind of that we are allowed some time to consider that.

"There is no reasons for James' people to be back in the club until this has reached a conclusion, yeah or nay.

"The hold-up now is that I am looking at their figures, trying to evaluate that. It takes time.

"It is a major departure from the offer agreed on 5th October.

"We felt that with James being here since January, the consortium was fully aware (of the club's financial situation), or should have been. It is being said now they were not.

"It is now down to whether our number crunching comes out the right way and if we feel it is a reasonable offer.

"The offer in October I thought we would have concluded by now, this dramatic change has put it back.

"I m looking to make the right decision. If it takes an extra day or two it is not affecting the running of the football club."

On 5th October Mr Derry and Mr Haslam had announced that they had agreed a deal for the club to change hands.

• Mansfield Town FC takeover

But problems then followed as the Football League insisted that the takeover plans be altered.

• Delay in Stags takeover

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, now the consortium us trying to buy the football club, with a 10-year lease to rent Field Mill from Mr Haslam who would continue to own the stadium.

It is not clear how the minority shareholders in MTFC, including fans group TEAM Mansfield which held 3.3% of the shares, will be compensated if the football club is sold.

• What is happening to TM shares?

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