And today Chad can exclusively reveal some of their plans for the Stags, together with the news that a major sponsorship deal is being finalised with Marston's brewery – as reported at chad.co.uk on Friday.

They hope that changes will begin as soon as the consortium's £500,000 buyout, announced earlier this month, is concluded.

Both of the new faces at Field Mill are lifelong Stags fans – Ian Randall and John Thorpe.

Mr Thorpe is a former national director with Lloyds TSB, while Mr Randall holds a senior position in a multi-national company.

Both will become associate directors once Mr Derry's takeover is completed - and Mr Thorpe, says incoming owner James Derry, has also been earmarked for the chief executive's role.

Mr Derry, who has always said that he would want a salaried chief excutive to run the club on a day-to-day basis, told Chad: "I am delighted to have both on board.

"John will bring a wealth of financial experience and I hope may have a greater role within the club long-term.

"He will initially be a consultant to look at the whole structure of the football club.

"Ian will be invaluable to us in bringing in the business community and promoting the commercial activities within the football club.

"He is a lifelong Stags fan, travels all around the country watching matches. He has shown a commitment to the club."

Investors

Both men are not part of the consortium, but Mr Derry added: "I hope to be announcing the investors soon, as I know that the fans are keen to know their identity."

Mr Randall (39), who lives near Clumber with his wife and family, spoke exclusively to Chad about his hopes and plans for the football club, which he has followed 'through thick and thin'.

He is a former Notts FA council member and is also a former secretary of both the Newark Football Alliance and the Newark Youth Football League.

Mr Randall, who has lived all his life in and around the Ollerton area, and 'followed the Stags since being a kid', said: "My main focus will be the development and broadening of the commercial and corporate side of Mansfield Town.

"Mansfield Town must be successful on the pitch and to support this they must be successful off the pitch, there are loads of opportunities for the club to work with local businesses to promote each other."

Mr Randall, who stressed that he would 'not be taking anything out of the Stags except the delight when we win games', added: "The club needs to be involved within the community more, working with the schools, promoting youth football and getting children back into football and Field Mill, as happened 20 years ago.

"Mansfield Town FC is about the only thing in Mansfield that gets national coverage in the press, week in, week out, and we need to capitalise on this.

"Mansfield Town is vital to the local economy with it employing in the region of 160 staff in various capacities.

"I must say the first business to come forward and to back the Stags after the sale was announced last week was Chad. They have made a contribution in advertising boards within the ground and MTFC are thankful for that.

Corporate

"Chad is also looking at running an online shop to allow the purchase of the Stags' merchandise, which would be a great benefit and service to the fans.

"Tony Lormor, our commercial manger, is working very hard on the corporate scene and this week he has an offer on the table for a large deal with Marston's brewery, which should be signed shortly.

"There is also a potential away strip sponsor who has come forward since the news about the sale.

"Mansfield Town now needs the backing of local businesses. The Stags already have some good sponsors, and they make good use of the club's sponsors lounge where tailor-made hospitality packages are available.

"But the new team want to create more facilities at Field Mill."
Already, a survey and costings are being undertaken to make use of the large void under the main West Stand, which at present is being used as a store room.

The new team is also looking at a new club shop and various other options to move the club forward.

Mr Randall said they hope to turn the West Stand void into one or two bar/lounge areas for the supporters to use before and after matches.
He told Chad: "If Notts County can have this facility, then Mansfield Town can have better.

"We would also like to make use of the X-Bar more often and money needs to be set aside to provide better facilities as the supporters deserve better, whether it be in the X-Bar or in the stadium in general.

"This will be done in conjunction with the supporters' groups as their valid views and thoughts will be sought on this."

"There is a lot to offer at Field Mill and I can say all the roads towards making the Stags successful off the field are being reviewed and looked at presently, and once the papers have been signed, things will happen."

Mr Thorpe is also a lifelong Stags fan, who told Chad: "Mansfield Town FC runs through my blood and I am desperate to see it do well."

A former national director of banking assurance and savings at Lloyds TSB, he is currently chairman of WTX plc, a Mansfield-based electronics components business, and also a consultant for financial services companies.

Glory

Married with two children, Mr Thorpe (45) lives in Ravenshead and was born and bred in the area.

He told Chad: "My father first took me to Field Mill when I was about six, I used to stand on the terraces in the glory days of Ray Clarke, Terry Eccles and Jimmy McAffrey.

"I have been a fan ever since and attend most home matches and as many away matches as I can.

"My job has taken me all over the country, but when it has come to the choice of going to Manchester United, for instance, or coming to Field Mill, you can not help where your heart is.

"I know a lot of fans, many are friends of mine, and we are all desperate for the club to do well.

"I think the club is in a perilous state and it needs local business people and all the fans to get together to try to save our Football League status.

"Bigger clubs than us have gone out of the League and then struggled to get back.

"There is a tremendous goodwill feeling in the town when the club does well, but lately it has been run down to such an extent . . . but we should be proud we have a League club.

"Now we have all got to do what we can to help us survive. I will be investing a lot of my time with the club and I hope that everyone, all the fans and business people, will pull together and support the club.

What do you think of the latest news from the Stags? Let us know below