Long time club servant Holland took the reins with just 12 games left of last season and the club heading for relegation.

And, despite a marked improvement, it wasn't enough to keep them up. Holland then endured weeks of waiting before the club was taken over and he was shown the door in favour of former Stags player McEwan.

However, Holland said: "I still wish Mansfield Town all the very best. I am just upset things didn't work out – but that's football.

"Mansfield will always be my club. I am just disappointed I couldn't go on and achieve a lot more with them. I am disappointed – but not bitter.

"I must make a decision now if I am to stay in football or make a fresh start. Academically I am bright. I did my A levels but never used them. Within a month of me finishing them I was training with Mansfield.

"Maybe it is time for me to go out there and do some 'proper' work. I have never know anything other than football.

"I have had a few phone calls from League clubs about getting involved in some capacity. It is a big decision to make."

Looking back on his long association with the Stags, he said: "Playing for Mansfield was my happiest time in football. Going back there on the coaching side was very pleasing but it never beat playing.

"My best moment was getting promotion in my first full season. I came in not expecting to play a lot of football but I got pushed in due to injuries and the rest of it is history.

"It was a great season, culminating in that final day against Rochdale.

"It was a real blow to have to retire early with my knee. I was just getting back to the football I could play and Danny Wilson had given me a new lease of life at Bristol City.

"I had scored twice in the first seven games and then in that eighth game against Oldham is all ended.

"I was very fortunate when Stuart Watkiss brought me to Mansfield after that. It was not nice to have to finish playing and "I will always be endebted to him for giving me that chance.

"It was a great opportunity to go back to your first club and it was nice to be able to put a bit back in."

"I think I have done every job down there since and thoroughly enjoyed it.

He added: "I am disappointed how it has ended and I am sure things will come out in the future. It's not the football club now that I knew.

"But I do hope Billy McEwan goes in there and does a very, very good job. I want them to do well.

"I really enjoyed working with Billy Dearden but when I got the chance to be the man who makes the decisions for the last 12 games of last season I absolutely loved it.

"I loved the day to day decision-making, the pressure of match days, dealing with the media – everything about the job.

"I am just disappointed I didn't have the chance to continue my managerial career there when I thought I had made a fairly promising start.

"I thought we played well enough in about 10 of the 12 games and only let ourselves down a couple of times.

"I will certainly be going back to Field Mill this season. I have made a lot of friends down there and, when you leave, you really do found out who your friends are. But, as I said, there is no bitterness – just disappointment."