Derry in Bid for Club ?

Last updated : 30 July 2007 By Editor
Stags chairman James Derry has sensationally revealed to be fronting a consortium of local businessman bidding to buy Mansfield Town FC.

In his statement released to the Mansfield CHAD on Monday, Derry is appealing to other local potential investors to get involved and pledge their support, possibly investing upwards of £50,000 each.

Mr Derry explained: "Rather than putting money in a building society, we are saying to business people, put in £50,000-£100,000 to the football club as a loan and at the end of an agreed period the money would be returned with interest.

"There is not much of a risk involved, the football club is in the black.

"We already have four or five people on board. But we want other business people from the town to be involved.

"People have said that if Keith (Haslam) was not at the football club they would get involved. Now we want to hear from them."

If we are successful, all monies raised would go back into the football club. We would run the club as transparently as possible, which perhaps hasn't been the case todate.

"New owners, whoever they are, would generate interest, however, they would need the fans to come back. I think they will.

"I would like to see the club being really successful, there is tremendous potential. We are debt free, there is a large catchment area. If Scunthorpe and Colchester can reach the Championship, why not Mansfield."

Derry was brought in my Keith Haslam to oversee the running of the club, just as pressure built on the owner of the Stags, as supporters turned against him towards the end of last season.

It remains to be seen if Derry's bid is serious, or a more cynical move to head off expected protests against Haslam as the season near's it's begining.

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http://www.chad.co.uk/stags-news?articleid=3069009