On Thursday Mr Haslam, who is still considering a revised offer from the group of businessmen, said: "I don't think I will be making a decision this side of the weekend, so it will be next week."

And yesterday Mr Derry, who had originally asked for a decision on his bid to buy Mansfield Town by last Friday, told Chad: "Keith's advisers have indicated to us that we will know by Friday.

"To be fair we had just revised our offer and Keith says he needs more time to consider it.

"There is not much more that we can do, the ball is in Keith's court. But we don't want this to drag on and we are pressing for a resolution."

The consortium last week tabled its revised, final offer — far less than the first agreed deal almost eight weeks ago after the process of due diligence revealed a worse financial position at Field Mill than it first thought.

On Thursday Mr Haslam reiterated his pledge, exclusively made in last week's Chad, that he does want to sell the Stags.

• I will make sale decision next week - Haslam

But the delay in a decision over the sale caused both his own manager, Billy Dearden, and Mansfield MP Alan Meale to speak of their fears.

Manager Dearden said: "Sometimes a manager needs some help and I am not getting any right now apart from my little squad and the people in the office. We are just getting by.

"What is going on behind the scenes doesn't help us at all. It is very important the takeover is sorted quickly or that we are back to square one."

While MP Mr Meale called the sale delay 'disturbing . . . and worrying for the staff', telling Chad: "I am concerned at the lack of a settlement, it is very disturbing, but what can one do?

• Stags sale delay disturbing, says MP

"The instability cannot be good for all the staff. You must remember that there are not just footballers at the club, there are clerical staff, coaches etc. The lack of a buyout must worry them. But it is not for me to get involved unless asked."