Mansfield Town can emulate Burton Albion and reach the Championship says boss Nigel Clough

Clough has the immediate task of trying to get Stags into League One first, but has already overseen the rise of Burton Albion from non-league into the Championship and said: “Having seen Burton Albion in the Championship for two seasons, that gives everybody in modern day football hope that they can achieve that.

“When we went there 20-odd years ago they were in the Dr Martens League playing at Weymouth and Dorchester and fighting our way in non-league.

“Then 20 years later to be in the Championship, I think that gives every small club hope.”

Clough said he would love to repeat the feat and be at the helm of taking Mansfield there.

“Of course I would like to be part of that but football is too unpredictable,” he said.

“You just need to ask Lee Johnson that. Sunderland are third in the league, had one poor 90 minutes on Saturday after a great run in the last couple of months, and somehow he's out of work.”

Stags have a blank weekend ahead but are sat in sixth place, just two points off the third automatic spot with a game in hand.