But it was not a wasted season with Stags using that pain, and the foundations laid, to go on and lift the Conference Premier title the following year.
Here we take a look at the squad that got Mansfield ticking once again and find out what happened to them when they departed the One Call Stadium.
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. Mansfield Town v Wrexham Mansfield Town goalkeeper Alan Marriott celebrates his goal Picture by Dan Westwell (PLEASE BYLINE)
Marriott made his 200th league appearance for Mansfield in a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in March 2014. Photo: Dan Westwell
. Alan Marriott
Marriott made his 200th league appearance for Mansfield in a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in March 2014. Marriott was offered a new contract at the end of the season, but left the club after turning the deal down before hanging up his gloves. Photo: Dan Westwell
. Rhys Day
Rhys Day of course made his name at Stags for his first spell between 2003 and 2006. He played nine more times for the club during a second spell between 2010 and 2012. He retired from the game at the end of the 2011/12 season at the age of 29 because of series of knee injuries that kept him out of the team for a 16-month period. Photo: National World
. John Dempster
It never worked out for John Dempster as manager of Stags. He won just seven of his 28 games in charge before being dismissed. On 7 February 2020, Dempster was appointed as Coventry City's Lead Professional Development Phase Coach, which saw him take charge of the club's under-18 team. Photo: jason chadwick
. Ben Futcher
Ben Futcher made just 11 appearances for Stags before he climbed the coaching ladder at the former Bury club. In June 2017 he was appointed assistant manager of Swindon Town and followed David Flitcroft to Mansfield Town. Photo: Anne Shelley
. Exodus Geohaghon
Exodus Geohaghon was renowned for his long throws during his two spells with Stags. After leaving Mansfield he never settled and developed a clubs joined list as long as your arm. They include appearances for Worcester City, Braintree Town, Solihull Moors, Nuneaton Town, Whitehawk, Torquay United and Barwell. Photo: Daniel Martino
. Kieron Freeman
Loanee Kieron Freeman played 9 games for Stags during this season before going on to play for 111 times for Sheffield United over five seasons. He is currently at Portsmouth and has been capped once by Wales, in a friendly in 2018 against Albania. Photo: Richard Parkes
. Martin Riley
Martin Riley currently plays for Southern League Premier Division Central side Hednesford Town. He played 28 times for Stags during the 2011/12 season as Stags lost at the play-off semi-final stage to York. Photo: Daniel Martino
. John Thompson
John Thompson announced his retirement from football on 30 April 2013 due to the mental scars left from the serious facial injury he received during a pre-season friendly against Ilkeston in August 2011. He became a regular presenter on Notts TV's "The Boot Room" and now works as a sports physiotherapist for the National Health Service. Photo: Anne Shelley
. Ritchie Sutton
Ritchie Sutton made 136 appearances for Stags, though he was largely a squad player during the title-winning season. Sutton is now on loan at Alfreton Town until the end of this season. Photo: Dan Westwell
. Luke O'Neill
Luke O'Neill caught the eye of some big clubs after an impressive 2011/12 season. He joined Burnley but only made one appearance. Photo: Yorkshire Post
. Gary Roberts
Gary Roberts signed an eighteen-month contract with Mansfield on 1 January 2012. In January 2013, he joined Maltese Premier League side Floriana on loan until the end of the season, before winding down his career at Bangor City, Southport and lastly Chester. Photo: National World
1. Alan Marriott
Marriott made his 200th league appearance for Mansfield in a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in March 2014. Marriott was offered a new contract at the end of the season, but left the club after turning the deal down before hanging up his gloves. Photo: Dan Westwell
2. Rhys Day
Rhys Day of course made his name at Stags for his first spell between 2003 and 2006. He played nine more times for the club during a second spell between 2010 and 2012. He retired from the game at the end of the 2011/12 season at the age of 29 because of series of knee injuries that kept him out of the team for a 16-month period. Photo: National World
3. John Dempster
It never worked out for John Dempster as manager of Stags. He won just seven of his 28 games in charge before being dismissed. On 7 February 2020, Dempster was appointed as Coventry City's Lead Professional Development Phase Coach, which saw him take charge of the club's under-18 team. Photo: jason chadwick
4. Ben Futcher
Ben Futcher made just 11 appearances for Stags before he climbed the coaching ladder at the former Bury club. In June 2017 he was appointed assistant manager of Swindon Town and followed David Flitcroft to Mansfield Town. Photo: Anne Shelley