Ex-Bolton trainee defender Alan O'Hare (25) and midfielder Gavin Hurran (22) are due to sign after verbally agreeing contracts, reports mansfieldtown.net

The manager said he is also waiting for a response on contract from four other players - while Chad understands that a season-long loan deal with Nottingham Forest for young keeper Paddy Gamble is also being considered.

O'Hare was released by Chesterfield in the summer after six years at Saltergate, while Hurran was at Kidderminster last season.

Both have figured highly in most of the pre-season friendlies, and featured from the first at Hucknall.

Irishman O'Hare can play either left-back or in the middle of the defence, while Hurren is a defensive centre midfielder, a former team-mate of another new signing Michael Blackwood at Kidderminster where he made more than 75 appearances.

McEwan said: "Both have accepted the contracts which we have offered them, and we are now waiting for them to put pen to paer.

"Alan has made over 140 appearances for Chesterfield and brings a lot of experience to the side. He has shown that he has what it takes to fo a good job for us this season, and with the training and coaching he will receive, I have no doubt thart he can only improve further."

The manager, talking about Hurran, described him as a versatile player 'which is very important'.

"We had to throw him in at the deep end on Monday night against Sheffield United, as he had an injury in the days leading upto the match, but I thought he did well overall," added McEwan.

He also said that he was waiting for a response to contract offers from four other players - yesterday Chad reported that McEwan had been trying to tie up deals with several players.

• Stags contracts on the table

The manager also told the club's website on Friday that a striker from Championship club would be added to the squad for the match at Boston tomorrow. Yesterday he told Chad that he anticipated some loan signings before the start of the new season.