Proud boss Nigel Clough looks back on his eventful time at Mansfield Town as he marks his fifth anniversary with Stags

The former Burton Albion boss arrived amid the chaos of the Covid pandemic to replace Graham Coughlan with Stags 22nd in League Two, without a win in 14 games, and worrying over a return to the non-league wilderness.

But comfortable survival that year was followed by a play-off final, just missing out on the play-offs by a single goal, automatic promotion and then staying in League One for the first time in 35 years in five fantastic seasons,

Clough recalls: “The job became available after Graham left.

“I had a chat with Gary (Crosby) and Andy (Garner) and it went from there.

“The next stage was speaking to David Sharpe (former club CEO) and then the owners (the Radfords) on Zoom.

“We had left Burton because of their financial situation.

“They were not sure if they would survive so we left because of that. We had been out of work for six months or something like that.”

With Covid sweeping the world and stadiums devoid of fans, it was a surreal time to come into the club.

“It was a very strange time. Everyone has come through it fine and football has come through it fine, but no one knew that at the time,” he said.

“We didn't know if and when crowds would be allowed back in, so there was a lot of uncertainty.

“When you go into a club you really have to concentrate on the playing side as you need results.

“You have to identify as quickly as possible who is going to help you get those results and who to select for a balanced team.

“Some of those players, like Jordan Bowery, Stephen McLaughlin and George Maris, are still here now with us five years on. And Stephen Quinn came in later. I think that is a good sign with the high turnover there is in football.”

He continued: “When we joined I think it's fair to say the players were low on confidence and in a period that teams get into which you are seeing now with the likes of Wolves where you can't win a game to save your life and you can't get a point.

“So you just say let's get back to basics a little bit and try to get a clean sheet and a 0-0 and build from there really.

“You have to get everyone's spirits up.

“As much as I don't like seeing managers go, sometimes it is necessary to rejuvenate things and reset things.

“For whatever reason you do get a bit of a lift from players when they do have a change, even though it shouldn't be the case.

“Realistically, being third bottom in October/November, the aim was to stay up. That was the target and we achieved that.

“Once you're getting towards being safe you're planning for the season after and deciding which players you want to keep around and on new signings – it's an ongoing process while you're still trying to win matches.”

After a final 16th place finish, the following season started badly due to a raft of injuries but then turned dramatically for the better, culminating in an agonising play-off final defeat at Wembley.

“The following season we couldn't win a game to save our lives, which is one of those sort of runs you get into,” said Clough.

“I remember a lot of injuries and the deserved 2-0 defeat at Northampton, where we played poorly, was our rock bottom.

“From that point on it started to turn and through the next six months we were magnificent, even in the games we lost.

“We did not think it would turn as spectacularly as it did, but that is football.

“If you want to know how big a part confidence plays in footballers you only have to look at that run.

“From being bottom or second bottom, to finish up at Wembley with that run got the whole club going as well. It got everyone together and got people behind the club again, especially after Covid. It was a real time of optimism.”

But it wasn't to have a happy ending as Stags lost 3-0 with 10 men at Wembley as Oli Hawkins was dismissed.

“With hindsight it never felt right in the build-up to the final,” said Clough.

“We were in reasonable form and happy with the team we had picked. But it just all went against us on the day.

“We looked a shadow of what we had been in the previous few months.

“You can analyse it until the cows come home, it is just human beings, footballers, whatever.

“Port Vale played very well and got the breaks.

“I thought we played all right second half with 10 men, but then the third goal killed it.

“It was a big disappointment and probably the lowest we have felt in the five years. It was 18-20 months of work down the pan in 45 minutes.

“We were all absolutely crestfallen and devastated.

“We did not go into it thinking we would walk it. We were not over-confident. But on the day they were better than us and that happens in football.”

The following year even more injury problems saw Stags miss out on the play-offs by a single goal scored.

“I think without doubt, injuries were the reason we didn't make the play-offs the season after,” he said.

“You saw the team was stretched at times, but they hung in there to get some very good results and challenge.

“Right up until the very last minute of the last game we were in with a chance.

“It was an absolutely brilliant effort over the nine months considering what we had to deal with.”

Then came the promotion season and Clough said: “After the devastation we felt losing the play-off final, and then going so close the next season, we sat down with the players at the start of the new season and said there is only one outcome we are going for and that is top three, not play-offs.

“It was an absolute clear focus right from day one. If we had made the play-offs we would not have seen that as a success.

“It was a very memorable season for everybody.

“There were lots of high points all season, but to win emphatically 4-1 at MK Dons, who were our closest challengers for automatic, and with what had happened against them a few years before for our supporters, it was extremely special.

“We were near as damn it there then, just needing a point from our last three games or so.

“That's why it was funny as the Accrington result that clinched it felt almost like an anti-climax for me.

“The scenes were absolutely brilliant. But we knew we'd done the work on the Saturday and it was just a case of sitting back and getting that result.

“The promotion success was all about the consistency of performances and the strength of the squad.

“And there were the goals from Davis Keilor-Dunn as well as all round the team contributions.

“Having good people around you is an absolutely vital component.”

Stags set out in League One like an express train but in the end settled for another season at that level as results dropped away after Christmas.

“Our clear aim again last season was to stay up, which the club had not achieved for 35 years. So I don't think that was being pessimistic,” said Clough.

“We made a good start and after the Stockport game at New Year we were sitting on 37 points and thinking we just need four more wins - but it then took us an age to get them.

“But, spread out over the whole season, I think it was a good season and we comfortably stayed up, despite the injuries that hampered us again with key players missing at key times.”

Taking an overview of his time with Mansfield, Clough said: “I am most proud of the progress the club has made in general over the five years.

“The owners have played a big part in that with the improvements at the lovely training ground and the new gym. We have to keep driving forwards.

“We also have phase one of the new stand built at the ground.

“And the Academy have improved their performances and standards.

“There wasn't too much there player-wise when we arrived, but now we have eight or nine players with a chance of making the first team in the next few years. Academies are all about patience.

“When we were at Derby they said we want a third of the squad coming from the Academy which is about seven players.

“We said we could do that but it would take between five and 10 years.

“You need a full cycle and that is what has happened here and you are seeing the results of it.

“These lads have raised the bar at the Academy. Whether they make it or not I am not sure. But they have raised the bar and it's those who are just below them that will benefit from it like Stephen Quinn's arrival did for the first team.

“They have to be the lifeblood of any club like this.

“But we want to do that in conjunction with the first team winning games. “That has to be the priority for us and supporters as that is what the club depends on.”

He continued: “The quality of the first team squad when all fit is now as good as any time in the last five years.

“It is now mid-November and we still have not had a full squad to choose from so it would be nice to have that at some point and see the strength of what we really do have.”

So does he see himself at Mansfield in another five years?

“I don't think so,” he smiled. “I am getting on a bit”

“Let's see if we can get through another five weeks!

“Let's see how we are looking at Christmas.

“We will take it a few weeks at a time but I think we're capable of competing.”