Stags lost the points and were given a small fine on Monday by the Blue Square Premier League after a fax detailing registration details of four new players failed to arrive at BSP headquarter in Birmingham.

• Stags suffer four point deduction


• McEwan rallies club after points misery

No decision has yet been taken over an appeal, though it seems unlikely. The club has 14 days to make a decision on any appeal after admitting six charges at the hearing.

"It is a knock and we are obviously disappointed and frustrated from the top downwards," he said.

"But we have to move on. We have spoken to the manager, players and all the staff and everyone is upbeat about it.

"It is done. We can't change the past but we can help shape the future and make sure these things never happen again.

"The players went out there and worked hard and deserved to win the points on the pitch. But they have been deducted for something that happened off the pitch.

"We were able to show the league the phone bill to show we faxed their number. But we didn't have the fax confirmation as the club has always worked off the memory and, by the time we were told it was required, the memory was too far gone for the fax company to be able to retrieve it.

"That procedure was changed within 10 minutes of this coming to light and the two signings we have made since have been done under our new system.

"We have to accept their decision. It was an independent panel, chaired by Lord Faulkner.

"The paper trail shows we did not set out to cheat anyone.

"I do not know if we will appeal. We need to spent 48 hours reflecting and not go with a gut reaction.

"And we have only been told the decision verbally so far. We have not had any official paperwork and if that does not look exactly as it was left then that may also cause a re-think on an appeal.

"We do want to get out of the Conference, but we have got to work with the people in the Conference as well and be professional all the way.
"Short term the goals are always getting promotion, winning every game and winning cups. But it is important that long term we build solid foundations here."

He added: "We do feel hard done to - anybody would. But we feel disappointed for the fans.

"We are the new people who came in here to do an honest job for everyone and we have perhaps let the fans down.

"But we are big enough to dust ourselves down and move forwards. It is a very quick, steep learning curve and now we must make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

"We have to make this unite us and galvanise us and I want everyone to get behind the team and manager.

"Fans are welcome to come and talk to us if they have grievances about the way we have handled things. But let's also get behind the players and move forward."