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STAGS TAKEOVER: Mansfield Town FC sold to consortium of local businessmen


Colin Hancock misses out in race to buy Stags

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Published Date: 27 June 2008
Email Tim Morriss

MANSFIELD Town Football Club has been sold today (Thursday) - and the protracted takeover had a major twist at the end of the sale saga.
For Chad can reveal that the new owners of the Stags are a group of local businessmen and NOT Glapwell FC owner, dentist Dr Colin Hancock, as had been expected.

Former club sponsors Andy Perry and Andy Saunders, together with Steve Middleton, have taken control at Field Mill after a takeover was announced on Thursday evening.

The sale follows the collapse of several previous takeovers by the Derry consortium last season.

Saunders is a high profile figure in supporters groups Stags Supporters Association (SSA) and the recently formed Stags Fans United (SFU) - positions he will now, no doubt, have to relinquish.

Middleton (49) is a new name to Stags fans, but has been a Mansfield fan since 1969. He is from Mansfield and has an electrical business in Newark.

It is expected that all three will take a hands-on role in the day-to-day running of the club.

All three - Andy Perry is from former shirt sponsors Perry Electrical and Andrew Saunders from ASIS, Andrews Saunders Insurance Services, which sponsored the Quarry Lane end stand at the 'new' Field Mill - are expected to attend a press conference at Field Mill at 2pm on Friday and have said they will not comment further until then.

However, Saunders did tell Chad on Thursday evening: "I am delighted that the sale has gone through."

  • We broke this news first with our free StagsWatch mobile text alert. Are you one of the lucky ones who have already signed up to this service? If not, read how to sign up here.


A statement was released by solicitors on Thursday evening saying said that a legally binding agreement had been entered into between the trio and Mansfield Town FC owner Keith Haslam for the sale of the club.

The statement from John Wilford, of Elliot Mather Solicitors, said: "We are pleased to announce that we have been advising a consortium of local businessmen in respect of the purchase of Mansfield Town FC.

"We can confirm that we have entered into a legally binding agreement to purchase the club."

The news finally ends Haslam's controversial 15-year tenure of the Stags and he confirmed the news to 103.2's Tony Delahunty on Thursday evening.

The new owners - who have bought the football club and will rent Field Mill over a 10-year lease (thought to include a get-out clause at some point) - have been in direct negotiations with Mr Haslam in recent weeks.

It is unlikely that financial details of the deal will be released. However, it is thought the consortium will have bought Haslam's majority shareholding for £1 and it is known that the rent will be substantially less than the £175,000 figure first quoted when the Derry consortium failed to achieve a takeover earlier this year.

The group's hopes of a takeover appeared to have been scuppered 10 days ago when it was announced that Dr Hancock and the club had agreed a deal.

  • Manager Holland is in the dark


He had been in takeover talks for several weeks, backed by Stags chief executive Stephen Booth - brought to Field Mill before Christmas to broker a sale - and chairman mayor Tony Egginton.

That deal would have seen Keith Haslam sell both the club and Field Mill - though on Thursday evening Egginton revealed that the option to purchase the ground would only have come after three years.

The lengthy sale negotiations have hampered the club´s plans to fight back from last season´s first ever relegation from the Football League, with manager Paul Holland still unsure of his position and with just a handful of players signed on for the Blue Square Premier campaign ahead.

The takeover cannot be confirmed until the shareholders formally back the sale of MTFC. But as Keith Haslam's company Stags Ltd owns the majority shareholding in the football club, the annual meeting - or even an Extraordinary General Meeting - is just a formality.

The news must mean the end for chief executive Stephen Booth - brought to the club to broker a sale but who has played no role in this deal.

  • Timetable to takeover


Non executive chairman Tony Egginton, Mansfield's mayor who took over the figurehead role to enable the club to complete its end of season fixtures when safety certificate holder James Derry left, is also expected to step down.

It is not known if the new owners will offer manager Paul Holland a contract for the new season, or opt for a more experienced boss.

Holland gained his first manager's role towards the end of last season following Billy Dearden's departure - when former Stags midfielder and Derby County coach Billy McEwan had been strongly linked with the job.



The full article contains 829 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 July 2008 10:59 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Mansfield
 
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1

stags_fan_4_eva,

normo 03/07/2008 18:46:17
bloody beutiful the day i have been waiting for and the sun has just rose from behind the clouds
2

Adamr999,

03/07/2008 18:49:29
Ill have to go thank andy saunders in a bit lol he only lives across road :P wooo
3

West Country Stag,

Penzance 03/07/2008 18:55:48
RUBBISH !! .... I'm totally disgusted in the fact that Haslam still owns the ground , claiming high rents , the worst part is HE'S still involved ..

I can see now why Haslam has turned down Dr Hancock ( who wanted to buy him out lock stock & barrel ) for these muppets who have kept him still biting away into Mansfield Town Football Club ...

Start of the demise .... R I P

All this time its been dragging on & the outcome still stinks

4

stags_fan_4_eva,

normo 03/07/2008 19:01:43
stop moaning we have done enough of that lets just be happy about this (for now!!!)
5

chipdude,

03/07/2008 19:13:50
At last, it has been sold!!!

But Haslam still owns the ground though. I would rather have Hancock to be the owner though.
6

idunno,

timbuck two 03/07/2008 19:18:30
why wouldn't you buy the ground no one wants haslam having anything to do with our club. IDIOTS. I agree with West Country Stag
7

,

03/07/2008 19:19:01
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason: Duplicate
8

Bristol Stag,

Almondsbury, South Gloucestershire 03/07/2008 19:24:52
You may not like him but Haslam is no fool. As ongoing landlord, he has the right to change the terms of the lease, including the rent paid plus sell what he still owns should he wish. Hancocks' deal was the better one, I just hope that this consortium has been strong enough to insist that Haslam (or his company) pays back what he (it) owes as part of the deal. The man is a lowlife but I pray he's a lowlife with no further influence on the clubs' running. If not, this group of new owners will make no difference to the long term future of the club.

Having said all that, once I hear the news conference at 2pm tomorrow, I will show my faith with a season ticket purchase.
9

Derby Stag,

Still Not Happy 03/07/2008 20:01:37
Pleased people who care about the club have bought it so well done! However bitterley disappointed that Haslam still has the upper hand and owns the ground. As long as he has any involvement he has one over us and you watch he will screw the club over the next 10 years and beyond particularly if we get any success. Yes I will go because I love the club but not at all happy !
10

benno,

03/07/2008 20:10:30
at last a sale, cant say im over the moon actually. been waiting so long for it to be sold, everyday checking this website hoping for news on sale. i thought i would explode with joy when it was all done, but no i feel pretty low about it because haslam is still the puppet pulling the strings. yes he is no longer the owner of the club but he is of the ground it plays on and the land. He could decide at any time he wants to sell the land and hey presto stags are done for. good luck to new owners anyway and thanks for effort
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