Stags chairman Radford so delighted to get his man

Following Adam Murray’s departure on Monday, Radford surprised supporters by moving swiftly to bring in the vastly experienced and successful Steve Evans, whom many thought would not drop down to a League Two club again after his spell at Leeds United last season.

“We knew we had to act quickly when Adam decided to leave,” said Radford.

“We are an ambitious club and looking round for a manager, who better than Steve Evans?

“He has had nine promotions. If we want promotion I think we have the right guy in Steve Evans.

“Myself and Carolyn (CEO Radford) went and charmed him and he has come on board. It was hard getting over the line but I am glad we got him there.

“We wanted someone with experience, someone with a proven record and someone with ambition – as much ambition as myself. We’ve got that in Steve Evans.

“He has a lot of work to do between now and the transfer window, but we will see what we can do. Hopefully we can deliver on what we’re looking to deliver.

“The football club has come a long way in the last few seasons after getting out the Conference and getting the ground sorted out, which was hard to do.

“We have always said to fans this club deserves success and we have had to look round.”

He continued: “We have been lucky to get Steve Evans. If Adam had not left when he did I am not sure we would have got Steve if we had waited any longer.

“Now let’s all get behind our new manager and see if we can achieve what we think we can achieve.”

On Murray’s departure, Radford said “Adam has been a stalwart of this football club and will always be a legend here.

“I have worked with him very closely. He was given the job here as a young manager and I am sure he will get back into it if that’s what he wants to do.

“The club will always look on Adam Murray with fond memories.

“It was painful when he decided to leave on Monday. Adam, in his head, did what is best for the club and left.

“We were then in a mad rush. We knew Steve Evans was out there, we contacted him and managed to sort the position out and I am grateful he’s come to the club.

“Adam has gone and it’s now about looking forward for the club.”

Radford dismissed suggestions he had planned to bring in Evans ahead of Murray’s departure, saying: “No, not at all. Adam decided to leave. We knew Steve Evans was out there and it was a case of acting quickly.

“Steve said there has always been a few clubs chasing him and we knew from a while ago that Steve did have an interested and a passion for Mansfield Town, so it was nice to make contact with him and me and Carolyn managed to convince him to come on board. We are pleased to have him here.”

Carolyn Radford added: “It is massive. We are so privileged to have Steve join us, we really are.

“It’s a statement of our intent that we definitely want to deliver on our promises to the fans which was promotion, and there is no one else better to do that for us.”

Evans was certainly no stranger to the location where the two parties met.

“I actually took him to the hotel where he proposed to his wife,” she smiled. “I don’t know if that had anything to with his decision to come here.”