NEXT HOME GAME - TBC
NEXT AWAY GAME - SUPPORTERS XI ARE PLAYING WORCESTER AT MALVERN ON SUNDAY AUGUST 3rd AT 3.00pm

Saturday, March 29, 2008

April Fools Day Come Early?

That was the reaction of Radio 5live's pundits to the news that John Batchelor wants to change Mansfield's name to Harchester United.

They cast Batchelor as a pantomine baddie intent on playing a cruel joke on Mansfield Town, after Batchelor himself told them they 'only had two fans' and that he was budgeting the club for zero attendance next season. He even went so far as to announce a mobile number live on air on a local Mansfield radio station for fans to ask him questions, noting his disappointment to 5live that he 'only got six calls'.

He is perfectly aware his publically declared plans are unpopular. A question and answer session for The Chad newspaper ended up a series of accusations of fraud and deception. He admitted asset-stripping as many companies as he'd 'saved' from a total of around 30, making a six-figure sum from York City - and acknowledged that a larger six-figure sum had gone missing from a deal at York to give a housebuilder first option on the Bootham Crescent site.

On the field, the Stags failed in a number of transfer attempts on loan deadline day after allowing six players to leave - including three strikers. They've scored just three times in the last five games with only Michael Boulding and Jefferson Louis left with any experience up front. Louis showed his commitment to the cause by missing their Easter Monday loss to play internationally for the Dominican Republic, somewhere the Harrow born player had only visited on rare occasions.

Chairman James Derry quit the club yesterday, his position untenable after a third failed bid for the Stags. Batchelor claimed Derry's consortium was stringing the deal along, waiting for the result of their relegation battle before confirming investment. With £500,000 needed up front as working capital - the club would be bought debt free for £1 - and with a £4million option to buy Field Mill they apparently baulked at the whopping rent current owner Keith Haslam wants for the ground.

£275,000 a year, nearly £5,300 a week, would be reduced to £175,000 if they dropped into the Conference. Most Conference sides would fold at the proposition of paying such a huge rent. Cambridge pay around £200,000 a year for their Abbey Stadium, and lose heavily each season as a result. Rotherham blame their current problems on their huge rent.

With such a figure hanging over Mansfield they can only follow the route of Rotherham and Cambridge - to sink further into the mire, lurching from financial crisis to financial crisis until they eventually free themselves from the burden and give owner Keith Haslam the £4million he demands, either by buying the site or bankrupting the club.