Archived News from February 2006
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EVENING POST: ANTI-HASLAM PROTEST MARCH
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ANTI-HASLAM PROTEST MARCH
Evening Post, 02 February 2006 MATT HALFPENNY Stags fans are today being urged by TEAM Mansfield: "Now's the time to take a stand against Keith Haslam." The group has organised a protest march - against the Mansfield chairman - from Mansfield Civic Centre to Field Mill before Saturday's game with Macclesfield. And they are asking every supporter who can make it to come along and make their voice heard (noon start). "The worst thing Stags fans can do is do nothing, so all we are asking is for them to give up two hours of their time," said TEAM Mansfield spokesman Chris Vasper. "We understand that fans want us to back the team and not create conflict. "But there comes a point where you have to take a stand and we think it is now. "We know Mr Haslam is thick skinned but if we can get hundreds of people there, he will have to sit up and listen." TEAM Mansfield's anger stems from money Haslam owes the club that they say is in excess of £1 million. The club has loaned around £585,142 interest-free to Haslam and paid more than £583,449 to his holding company, Stags Limited, to buy land for an academy yet to be built. Haslam has said he will pay the money back in full. But he was unmoved by the prospect of the march and said: "It doesn't help the club and it's created a lot more work for the staff here. "There actions have so far not affected me in the slightest and if they think that it will have any effect now, then they are sadly wrong. "There are five to six people who start the chants against me but there are more like 100 people telling them to shut up. "I think the tide has turned against TEAM Mansfield and people are starting to lose interest in them now." Before the march, a meeting will be staged with speeches made from TEAM Mansfield personnel and other supporters' trusts. Fans will also have the chance to sign a petition. |
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