TEAM Mansfield spokesman Chris Vasper said to the CHAD : "It's a sad indictment on Mansfield Town when peaceful protest is pounced on so quickly by stewards using the guise of health and safety.
"Team Mansfield have taken up to three large banners into the last four away games with the full backing of the clubs involved and not one of them has expressed any concern, indeed we have had the full backing of all the safety officers at those clubs and the stewards have been extremely helpful.
"What makes the Mansfield Town position even more surprising is that it's taken up to three years to implement recommendations by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) much to the annoyance of the SAG.
"Much of Field Mill is scruffy especially the toilets that haven't been cleaned in years, taps that run dry during games making hand washing impossible yet, MTFC seem to have reacted with outstanding speed to address 'safety' issues that might embarrass the club."
"We now understand that the club are contacting all the remaining clubs we have to play requesting they seize on any banner being displayed.
"Mansfield Town seem to be a law unto themselves when it suits the club. The demonstration with IOU £1m balloons at the recent Bristol Rovers game was designed to cause even more embarrassment for Mr Haslam and it's clear that balloons now appear to be too dangerous to bring into games.
"This protest, like many others now developing around Field Mill was independently instigated and implemented by people who care deeply about our club.
"The fact that individuals now find themselves banned after that game is an outrage.
"The gentleman concerned has been heavily involved with the Chelsea Barsby Campaign - a charity very close to the hearts of Stags fans.
"He's been a lifelong supporter who like all of us taking part in the recent demonstrations, travel all over the country watching Mansfield Town in a peaceful way.
"Now because he's had enough and dares to protest against Mr Haslam's self-confessed illegal loans the club feel the only course of action is the ban him.
"He like others have had the courage to protest their displeasure at the leadership, its a shame the club don't have the courage to explain the real reasons why they are being so heavy handed."
Graham Parker, the now "banned" supporter spoke to the CHAD :He said: "As I was leaving the Rovers game I was approached by the chief supervisor who told me I had been banned from the club after being involved in two protests.
"They asked me to leave immediately as I was now trespassing.
"That is absolute rubbish as I had already entered into a contract with the club to provide me with entertainment.
"They invited me to attend as a member of the public and so how could I be trespassing?
"Apparantly that night we had sat in the executive seats when we launched the balloons, even though it doesn't say anywhere that they are for executives only. But when we were asked to move, we did so eventually after asking him for an explanation.
"At the Grays game we put up a banner and were told to take it down. Again we did so after asking why. Both times we did as asked though, granted, not instantly as this is supposed to be a protest.
"Every protest has been peaceful. But I have now been told I am banned.
"If I wanted to go back I was told I would have to put it in writing to the secretary asking to come back in and they would write back.
"I find it absolutely amazing they are trying to hide behind safety rules and using them to deny us freedom of speech and our right to protest against the chairman.
"The club were perfectly happy to give me their PA system to encourage fans to get behind the team when we played against Oxford. But when I have comments to make about how the club is being run and the chairman breaking company law, it's very different.
"Myself and the other fans who have been involved in charity work in connection with the club have probably done more to promote Mansfield Town than Keith Haslam in the last five years. We have raised its profile in the estimation of the fans."
Also speaking in this weeks CHAD newspaper, safety officer John Sidney explained "Graham Parker was banned after being seen on camera dropping balloons into the directors' area.
"We still don't know what gas was in the balloons but it was obviously a heavy one from the way they exploded instead of just bursting.
"Some heavy gases are highly inflammable and that was our concern. Someone was bringing a gas into the ground without our permission. County Council representatives there were horrified."
"At the end of the day the ground is private property and there are ground regulations that state a long list of what can and can't be brought in. Potentially dangerous gas cyclinders would certainly come under that.
"As far as banners are concerned, the ones that were being brought in were clearly just advertising.
"If fans want to bring in flags with team names on them and they are not considered a risk in any way then that's fine."
"But if people want to bring in large banners with advertising on them then they would have to go through the proper channels like everyone else.
"Graham Parker was told he would not longer be welcome. But if he wants to come and see me or the chairman and give us assurances he will not bring noxious gases into the ground, then obviously we would reconsider the ban."
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Full article and more on the ongoing saga in this weeks CHAD