Haslam Springs Surprise....

Just prior to the match with Cheltenham, Keith Haslam announced that he would 'move' from his tenur as Chairman to be replaced by Peter Lee, but would remain within the football club as Managing Director. Speaking on the Official Mansfield Town website about the announcement, Haslam said "I will be standing down after the game the game with Cheltenham and Peter will be taking over as chairman. I will be staying at the club as managing director but it is Peter's expertise that will of benefit to the club. Over the last fifteen or sixteen years he has developed four stadiums to a very high level. He has also been involved in grass roots football and various community projects. In fact he is everything that is required at this football club".

"I have known Peter for a number of years and I was delighted when he agreed to accept the appointment as I am sure there are many clubs that would have snapped him up once they out he was available."

Meanwhile Peter Lee was looking ahead to the Task (also speaking to the official Website)

"I am rearing to go and up for the challenge, I have recently retired as chief executive of the football foundation which is the country's biggest sports charity and before that I was chief exec of the football trust which is much involved in the professional game so I hope that I have a wealth of experience and expertise that will be of benefit to Mansfield Town.

"I see my task as doing everything I can to ensure that Mansfield Town has huge success both on the pitch and off it. The essential thing is to get it right on the pitch because everything flows from that and we will be concentrating as much as we can to develop or non first team matters like ground redevelopment and community work. This club has great potential to move forward. I would not have accepted the position if I felt it didn't.

" I have known Keith for a while now and I think that it was because of our paths crossing that he felt that I would be some assistance to the growth of MTFC and I am pleased that he took that view and I hope that I can prove him right."