Archived News from May 2006
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NEW CHAIRMAN LEE AS HASLAM STEPS UP TO CHIEF EXEC
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Haslam Steps Down As Chairman
mansfield103.co.uk Keith Haslam's 13-year reign as chairman of Mansfield Town has come to an end. He announced his intention to step down in a press conference just two hours before the Stags' final game of the season at home to Cheltenham Town. He will remain at the club as Managing Director and the Chief Executive. Coming in to be chairman from the middle of June will be Peter Lee. He has recently retired as Chairman of the Football Foundation and also worked for the Football Trust. Peter Lee at the Cheltenham game (photo by Dan Westwell): 
Keith Haslam and Peter Lee at the Cheltenham game (photo by Dan Westwell): 
Keith Haslam spoke to Mansfield 103.2 about his decision to step down as chairman at Field Mill: http://www.mansfield103.co.uk/MansRadWeb/SubPages/Default__page___Sport-bs.2006-05-06.Mansfield,Town,-,Keith,Haslam,Interview__.aspx Mansfield Town's new chairman Peter Lee spoke to Mansfield 103.2 about his appointment: http://www.mansfield103.co.uk/MansRadWeb/SubPages/Default__page___Sport-bs.2006-05-06.Mansfield,Town,-,Peter,Lee,Interview__.aspx ---------- Radio Nottingham interview with Haslam: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2006/stags_cheltenham_home_haslam.ram Radio Nottingham interview with Peter Lee: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/2006/05/peter_lee_interview.ram New chairman Lee tells Radio Nottingham he expects to be around 1 or 2 days a week ----------- Peter Lee Factfile mansfield103.co.uk Here is some background information about Mansfield Town's new chairman. Peter Lee retired as the Chief Executive of the Football Foundation and the Football Stadia Improvement Fund on 31st March 2006 having spent 20 years at the heart of football developments in the UK. The Foundation/FSIF is a partnership between Government, the Football Association and the FA Premier League. It has an annual core budget of £45m and provides grants for grass roots facilities in parks and school, community and education projects and safety and improvement work at football clubs at all levels of the game from the Football League Championship down. Launched in 2000, under Peter's leadership, the Foundation has become the biggest sports charity in the UK, bringing together Government and football to benefit communities and the grass roots of the game. It harnesses football's ability to act as a delivery vehicle for social inclusion, health, education and motivational projects. The Foundation and the FSIF have invested some £250m in projects worth over £600m. Peter was Chief Executive of the Football Trust and the Sports Grounds Initiative from 1990 until the Football Foundation was set up. He was thus at the helm throughout the 1990s which saw the implementation of Lord Justice Taylor's recommendations following the Hillsborough Stadium Disaster. The Trust played a key part in helping to fund the resultant transformation in safety and improvement of football grounds in the FA Premier League and the Football League. Before that he spent 25 years in the Civil Service, mostly in the Department of Environment. He served in Ministers' Offices and the Sports Policy Directorate playing a key role in the Football Spectators Act 1990. His Departmental brief on football included the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe's Standing Committee on Spectator Violence. Peter's other posts whilst Chief Executive of the Foundation included: - Chairman of the Foundation's Community and Education Panel - Director of Kick It Out, football's anti racism initiative - Member of the FA Women's Football Committee - Member of Barclays Spaces for Sport Steering Committee. Following his retirement, Peter has been appointed Chairman of the Welsh Football Trust, a partnership between the Football Association of Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Sports Council for Wales, providing access to coaching and facilities to increase participation and improve standards throughout Wales. --------------- New chairman for Mansfield Town FC CHAD website, 06 May 2006 KEITH Haslam today announced he is stepping down as Mansfield Town chairman after today's home game with Cheltenham Town. His replacement will be Peter Lee, the former chief executive of the Football Foundation and, previously, chief executive of the Football Trust. Mr Haslam, who has been at the helm for 13 years, will stay on at Field Mill as managing director. The chairman has had a difficult season under pressure from supporters' group TEAM Mansfield. But he stressed this decision was nothing to do with that and was part of the restructuring announced last summer at the club's annual meeting. Mr Haslam said he was excited by the appointment, which will take effect from 15th June. "Peter's expertise will be invaluable here," he said. "For the last 15-16 years he has developed football stadia to the highest level in this country and we are very pleased he has agreed to come on board. "I spoke to him at a very early stage last year and I think we are very lucky to get him as, if they had been aware of his availability, I think a lot of clubs would have been jumping at him. "I spoke to someone this morning who felt this was a major coup for Mansfield Town. "He is an impartial person with a fresh slate. He wants to talk to supporters and the local community and take this club forward. "I think it is a brilliant appointment for Mansfield Town. He knows everyone in football - FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League - and he has administered over £600m of grants, probably including the one that set up TEAM Mansfield! "I can't speak highly enough of him and he will be a very good asset here. "I always wanted to step down as chairman so it was a case of looking for a suitable candidate. Peter is more than suitable - he is exceptional." Mr Lee (60) said: "I have a wealth of experience that I feel will be of benefit to Mansfield Town. "I always thought that when I retired from the Football Foundation I would like to see life at an individual club and be involved in taking that club forward. "I relish the challenge and I am looking forward to it. "I know it has been a difficult season for Mansfield in some regards but I was pleased to see they rallied and are now in a solid position - a lift-off position for next season. "I will do everything I can to make Mansfield Town a success on and off the field. "Obviously, like every club, if you have a first team performing well then everything else just flows from that. "But it is also important to be part of the local community. I will be doing all I can to develop the non-first team areas. "I would not have accepted this position if I didn't think I could take this club higher. "I have known Keith Haslam for a while now and I was pleased he thought I had something to offer. I now hope to prove him right." ----------- mansfieldtown.net Keith Haslam Stands Down as Chairman of MTFC This afternoon prior to the kickoff before the final game of the season versus Cheltenham Town. Chairman Keith Haslam called a press call and announced that he will be standing down as chairman of the club as of the final whistle today (Saturday 6 May). Replacing Keith as Chairman will be Peter Lee former chief executive of the football foundation. Previous commitments mean that Mr Lee will not be taking up the position until the fifteenth of June but he is looking forward to the appointment and will bring with him a wealth of experience that can only be of benefit to Mansfield Town FC. Keith Haslam will be staying on at the club in the role as Managing Director but it Peter Lee's expertise that will prove invaluable to the progression of Mansfield Town. "I will be standing down after the game this afternoon 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" said Mr Haslam. "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." He added Mr Lee himself said that he cannot wait to take up for the role and is up for the challenge. "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 hav e 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." He told the official website this afternoon. ---------- Radio Nottingham interview with Haslam: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2006/stags_cheltenham_home_haslam.ram Radio Nottingham interview with Peter Lee: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/2006/05/peter_lee_interview.ram ----------- picture of Peter Lee here: http://www.thefa.com/Grassroots/GrassRootsNews/Postings/2006/04/Football_foundation_new_ceo.htm ------------ WE'RE ALL SET FOR TAKE-OFF, SAYS LEE Evenin Post, 09 May 2006 MANSFIELD TOWN: Haslam hands over the reins New Stags chairman Peter Lee lays out his vision for the future at Field Mill to Matt Halfpenny New Mansfield Town chairman Peter Lee has vowed to do "everything he can" to make the club a success both on and off the pitch. The former chief executive of the Football Foundation was unveiled as Keith Haslam's successor before Mansfield's game with Cheltenham on Saturday. Haslam has stepped down from the post after 13 years. Although he will remain as managing director and chief executive, he has promised that Lee, 60, will be responsible for making day-to-day decisions. "The most essential thing is to have the first team doing well, everything follows from that," said Lee. "I want Mansfield to be a big part of the community and I also want to help finish the ground development. "I am certainly ready for the challenge and I hope I have the experience that will lift Mansfield Town. "I think it's been a difficult season for Mansfield in some regards but I'm pleased to see they have rallied and are now in a solid, lift-off position for next season. "The thing is now for everyone to pull in the same direction and take the club forward." Lee retired from the Football Foundation on March 31 but will not be able to start his new role at Mansfield until June 15 because of contractual obligations. But he attended the Stags' game with Cheltenham and hopes to meet with supporters' groups as soon as possible. He said: "I have always thought that I would like to see football at an individual club and this gives me the chance to do that. "I am relishing the challenge and looking forward to it." Outgoing chairman Haslam, 46, will still be the club's major shareholder. He was the youngest chairman in the Football League, aged 33, when he assumed the role in 1993. He is delighted with the capture of Lee and hopes that he can help bring the good times back to Field Mill. "Peter's expertise will be invaluable for Mansfield Town," said Haslam. "Over the past 15 or 16 years he has helped redevelop football stadiums in this country to a high level. "He has also developed the game at grass roots level and I feel that everything that is required to take this club forward, Peter has in abundance. "I said last September at the club's AGM that I wanted to restructure the club and I have been in contact with Peter from a very early stage. "I was always going to step down as chairman when I found the right candidate to replace me and in Peter I think we have an exceptional one. "I thought it was an appropriate time before the last game of the season to announce this to the supporters and show them where we are going. "I think it's a big appointment for Mansfield Town because he knows everyone in the game from Uefa to the Premier League and has administered over £600m of grants. "I think we were very lucky to get in there first because there were other clubs interested in him and I can't speak highly enough of him. "I know there are others who think it's a great coup for us and he is hoping to improve the facilities at the ground and for training." |
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