David Sharpe keen to reward Mansfield Town's owners with promotion

Sharpe has praised the dedication and commitment shown by the duo during their Stags tenure and says promotion would be a fitting tribute.

“There has never been a doubt about the chairman and the co-chairman’s ambitions for the club,” he said.

“They love this football club and want to see the club in a good place. They deserve success.

Why patience and sticking to the plan is the key to long-term success for David Sharpe

“It will take time, but the Radfords will remain as ambitious as ever.

“They have put in significant amounts of money through the last season, to back the manager and to bring in players and that will remain.”

“It is ultimately down to Nigel (Clough), myself and the staff to try and reward them.”

And the Stags CEO believes that dream can be achieved as long as the correct plans are put in place to take the club forward in stages.

“It will take time and it's one step at a time,” he added. “Michael Duff has been at Cheltenham for a long time and you see their progress.

“It takes three to five windows before you start to see the team you want.

“It takes a lot of planning and a lot of good business. Bad business can hurt you and it takes a long time to recover sometimes.

“We had a terrible window after we got relegated from the Premier League at Wigan and it took us three to four years before we got back to square one again.”

Boss Nigel Clough also said it was crucial to put solid foundations in place to take the club forward.

“Solid foundations will give us the best chance for success going,” he said.

“We are just planning season by season, firstly this season for survival and then to put a squad together next season to challenge.

“If it doesn't happen then hopefully we will get a chance to have another go the season after that.

“The bigger picture is what we are looking at. Are we improving? There have been a few teams in League Two such as Forest Green and Cheltenham who have been knocking on the door for four or five seasons and building.

“Some teams do it at the first opportunity. But it usually takes a few seasons and we have to be patient if necessary.

“Hopefully we will go up next season, but if not then we have to look at if we are going in the right direction for what we are trying to achieve.”