Pulling together for good times! Mansfield Town director of football David Sharpe arrives to support Graham Coughlan, not undermine him

As the Stags boss begins his first summer of business at the One Call Stadium he will be keen to re-shape a squad in his image.

Relationships between directors of football and managers don't always run smoothly, but Sharpe believes that 'pulling together' is the best way to bring success.

"In my opinion, my role as director of football will be very much to support the manager and staff, from the academy up to the first team," he told the club's website.

"I fully believe that when it comes to issues such as recruitment and signings the manager should always have the final decision, with the chairman.

"I've heard stories of directors of football signing players. The manager turns into a head coach and doesn't really have a say on signings.

"That's not what I'm here to do and I don't want to be that type of director of football.

"I'll be working closely with Graham and his staff, with Andy Burgess, the academy. That'll be my role, between the chairman, Carolyn and the manager.

"Hopefully, putting good processes in place, the club will better for it. Pulling together in one direction, we'll have some good times ahead."

Sharpe, 29, became the youngest-ever chairman in English football when he took the role at Wigan Athletic as a 23-year-old.

During his tenure the Latics won two League One titles, something Sharpe puts down to hard work and attention to detail.

"It was a job to me," he continued. "To some people being the chairman just means paying the cheques and turning up to the games.

"My role was very much day-to-day, working in every department from football to commercial to hospitality, whatever it may be.

"I look back on it fondly and will hopefully use my experience there to bring some aspects here and see if we can learn from each other and gel it together.

"We won some promotions, trophies, leagues. I look back on it as a great time, but also it's been and gone. I move on and here I am today as a Stag."

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