It is the latest twist in the protracted takeover talks for Mansfield Town Football Club between the chief executive and a consortium led by Mr Derry - and comes less than 24 hours before the Stags' big FA Cup tie at Harrogate Railway live on BBC 1's Match Of The Day.

Mr Haslam is expected to attend the match, where his friend and former Stags manager Carlton Palmer will be working as a pundit for the BBC, despite planned fans protests against his continued ownership of the club.

When the offer from the consortium was turned down on Thursday, Mr Derry said he hoped to resurrect the deal at a meeting with Mr Haslam on Monday morning.

But Mr Haslam said on Saturday afternoon: "Despite reports to the contrary, there has been no meeting requested with me by the consortium.

"The terms they offered were turned down.

"I am awaiting a phone call from one of the members of the consortium.

"I can say there has been no meeting planned and no meeting needed.

"There has to be a fundamental change in their offer for a meeting to be held.

"I am holding discussions with various people on Monday as to where we go from here."

After being made aware of the owner's surprise statement, Mr Derry told Chad later on Saturday afternoon: "I would prefer not to comment at this stage.

"I am surprised by this statement, but I will see Keith at the game tomorrow.

"I just want to get this all resolved."

On Thursday the football club's controversial chief executive rejected a takeover bid from Mr Derry's consortium of businessmen, shortly after the noon deadline imposed by the group . . . but left the door open for further talks.

• Haslam rejects consortium bid

Mr Derry then said he planned to see Mr Haslam on Monday for a last-ditch meeting to resurrect the deal.

• Derry to meet Haslam on Monday

Mr Derry's group had last week set a Thursday noon deadline for a decision on its revised offer for the Stags after Mr Haslam had, 24 hours earlier, called for more details and proof that they had the money to support their plans.

If the takeover deal cannot be resurrected, Mr Derry said that he would have to consider his position as chairman at Field Mill, conceding that the offer rejection had made his position 'very difficult'.