But rumours that the man, whom the Stags have not named, is former Hucknall Town boss Steve Burr - now in charge at Stalybridge - appear wide of the mark.
A 'delighted' Holdsworth emerged from talks with the Stags on Christmas Eve to say that he had been offered the vacant manager's job . . . and on Boxing Day evening said that he believes Mansfield and Ilkeston must come to an arrangement to secure his release from The Robins, where he still has five months remaining on his contract.
However, the Stags say they have not offered the manager's post to Holdsworth and want the new manager - whoever he is - to come to Field Mill with the backing of his current club.
Mansfield's new owners - Andy Perry, Steve Middleton and Andy Saunders - were given permission to speak to the highly rated 40-year-old Holdsworth on Tuesday evening - first revealed here at Chad.co.uk as we led the way with reports of Holdsworth's links with Field Mill this week.
But on Boxing Day Holdsworth remained at Ilkeston, where he is contracted until the end of the season - with confusion over whether his contract includes his release to a 'bigger' club. It is also rumoured that Ilkeston, keen to keep their manager, have offered him an improved deal.
Now the Stags have revealed that there is an unidentified strong, second candidate - another young, non-league manager - still involved in negotiations over coming to Field Mill.
After guiding Ilkeston to a 12th successive match unbeaten, a 2-2 home draw with Matlock, Holdsworth said on Boxing Day evening: "Our chairman Dennis Harris told me at Heanor (Tuesday) that he had had an approach from Mansfield for me.
"I spoke to Mr Perry, the Mansfield chairman. Mansfield have asked me to be their manager – that is as far as I can say. It is down to the two clubs to come to an arrangement.
"(If they can't) I will proud to be Ilkeston manager next week again at Hednesford (New Year's Day)."
Holdsworth last saw his Ilkeston side beaten back on 29th October, at big spending FC United, and the Boxing Day match attracted the biggest league crowd of the season.
The former Sheffield United and Birmingham defender earlier told Chad on Boxing Day morning: "Until I know differently, I will carry on as normal here with Ilkeston . . . I am a professional, have a great set of players here and will carry on the work we have started until I hear otherwise.
"Of course, I have aspirations to manage at a higher level and I have found Mr Perry and the Mansfield board very welcoming.
"But I have loved my time at Ilkeston and will continue to do my duty to the club."
Stags chairman Perry told Chad on Boxing Day: "I have spoken to their (Ilkeston) chairman, but he is on holiday in Wales and not easily contactable because of a poor phone reception. The owner (Chek White) is in Barbados, and with it being Christmas it doesn't make it easy.
"It is now upto Ilkeston if they want to release him. They gave us permission to speak to him."
Perry also revealed that the Stags are in talks with a second non-league boss about the vacancy, created when Billy McEwan was sacked two weeks ago. It appears that they may turn to this unidentified man if the Holdsworth deal breaks down.The chairman told Chad on Boxing Day: "We have been given permission to speak to two managers by their clubs, David (Holdsworth) and one other.
"At the moment nothing is finalised in any way with anyone.
"We now have two managers very interested in coming to this club.
"The other person has asked us not to reveal his identity. But we were given permission by his club to speak to him and we have done.
"He is going to come back to us.
"Really it is nip and tuck between the two of them, David (Holdsworth) and the other manager.
"Now we are waiting for the chairman (Ilkeston) and the board (the un-named club) to come back to us.
"Because of the weekend and Christmas, it could be that we do not get anything sorted ahead of Monday's match with Burton . . . and then we don't have another match for some time, so there is no immediate rush."
Caretaker managers Adie Moses and Mark Stallard remained in control of the team for the 3-1 Boxing Day win at Kettering - their second successive victory - and look likely to still be in charge on Monday for the visit of Burton.
If Holdsworth does take over, the Stags chairman has said that he would be coming on his own and assess the current Field Mill staff before making a decision on any assistant.
Other non-league managers currently in work who have already been linked with the Stags' job include Steve Burr (Stalybridge), Paul Cox (Eastwood), Gary Mills (Tamworth), Jim Harvey (Forest Green) and Mark Cooper (Kettering), though it is thought the Stags have not contacted Cooper. After initially saying he would be interested, Cox also distanced himself from a switch to Field Mill. Burr declined to comment when contacted by Chad on Saturday.
