Stags chairman backs manager Cox for the season

Mansfield Town chairman John Radford has thrown his weight behind Paul Cox by insisting his manager will be at One Call Stadium until the end of the season regardless of Stags’ final league position.

During a night of revelations at a Question & Answer session held at the club on Monday evening, Mr Radford revealed that the Stags’ boss had signed a new contract at the beginning of the season, but did not disclose the length of the deal.

Cox was under pressure from supporters after a recent run of 13 games without a League win, though that pressure has eased after the side took seven points from their last three games ahead of this Saturday’s home clash with League Two leaders Scunthorpe United.

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Answering frankly to fans’ questions, Mr Radford also announced that the Stags had the third highest wage budget in League Two this season.

Speaking about Paul Cox, Mr Radford said: “He is here until the end of the season, so I want fans to support him.

“My expectations are high and there is a lot of pressure on Paul and the players. His average points per game as a manager is good and I still think he is a reasonable manager who can keep us in this league.

“We started the season reasonably well, and (despite a bad run recently) we are starting to get better.”

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Local businessman and lifelong Stags’ fan Andy Sutton was unveiled as the club’s new communications director.

Mr Sutton will be tasked with liaising with local authorities to enhance the club’s training areas for the first team and the Stags’ expanding youth academy.

Mr Radford also reported that, although the club had budgeted for a £40,000 loss between July and the present date, that deficit had increased to £197,000 in the red.

However, he said the shortfall shouldn’t be a cause for alarm as expenditure had increased due to the renovation of the Sandy Pate Sports Bar, the new five-a-side 3G pitch at the side of the stadium and other key improvements made to the ground last summer, which were essential to fulfil Football League criteria.

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Mr Radford added: “We all want success for this club and I appreciate the time and effort the fans give to this club. The club is in a lot better shape now, certainly than it has been in the last 10 years.”