That is how close he is to a takeover, it was revealed on Thursday afternoon - after a second buyout in the past two weeks failed at the 11th hour.

• Derry appeals for backers after takeover bid fails . . . twice!

Now his consortium - and Stags chief executive Stephen Booth - are appealing for fellow businessmen to join them, conclude a swift deal and help keep the Stags in the Football League.

• Details of the latest developments were revealed at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. To watch a video of the conference and questions from Chad's Tim Morriss and John Lomas, plus 103.2's James Corden, click on the green play icon.

For they are convinced that a speedy takeover - and the deal on the table could be signed within a few days if new backers come forward - would create a feelgood factor that could save the club from relegation.

Stags fans will be surprised and delighted that current owner Keith Haslam has agreed to let the club go for largely the same deal as he bought it – a nominal £1 purchase, though he would remain the landlord offering a four-year option to buy the ground, too.

• Listen to the Chad panel talk about the dramatic developments on the latest edition of Stags Talk. Click here for our audio show

The consortium, if they can conclude the deal, would pay a fixed rent over 10 years - a figure which would be reduced if the club slips into the Conference - but take on the club with a zero balance sheet, no debt.

That means that all money put in from new owners would go into the club and not to Mr Haslam, Mr Derry stressed on Thursday.

However, it seems that would also mean Mr Haslam retains the land at Skegby owned by his company, Stags Ltd, but which was bought for a yet-to-be-built training ground with a £500,000 loan from the football club which has never been repaid.

Current chairman and consortium head, Mr Derry estimates £500,000 working capital is needed to make the move and he and named consortium partner and long-time Stags fan and local businessman Steve Hymas are happy to put in half of it.

• Read full takeover statement from Booth and Derry here

But after losing two different partners on recent deals, now they are looking for a handful of businessmen to put in something like £50,000-£100,000 apiece and join the agreed buyout - and that is why they have gone public for the first time.

Mr Derry added: "I know people have been getting very frustrated and I understand that.

"They say it has been going on so long why have we not put a deal together? So we decided to tell everyone where we stand and give them an opportunity to come forward.

"Steve Hymas has been a Stags fan all his life and is well known in the town. His involvement will hopefully give our bid credibility and confidence that it is the right deal for the football club."

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Prospective consortium members must have proof of the requisite money.

"A takeover may be just the boost this club needs in our situation," added Derry. "It could be the lynchpin of going forward and staying in the League. And it is plainly a more attractive proposition as a League club rather than non-League."

Chief executive Stephen Booth - brought to Field Mill in December to broker a takeover deal - said: "I think the fact that Keith has agreed a deal now almost identical to the one he came into the club with 15 years ago will show sceptical fans that he is definitely prepared to sell'"

"Don't forget, it wasn't Keith Haslam who pulled out of the deal last time.

"The deal that was on the table before Christmas was far more attractive to Keith Haslam. But the position the football club is in now is not as attractive as it was before Christmas. So we had to restructure the deal to make it a more attractive proposition.

"I cannot put all my eggs in one basket and we are still talking to other interested parties, but my preference has always been for a local solution to this and James Derry's bid is by far the most advanced.

"Talk is very easy. Translating it into action is very different. Anyone who wants to help should come and talk to us now."

The takeover would not need to be given the thumbs up by the Football League because Derry's consortium would be taking on the existing company that runs the club - Mansfield Town Football Club Ltd - not creating a new one.