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Archived News from December 2007

BOOTH`S PLEA TO PROTESTING FANS
7th December 2007 13:24


New Stags chief's plea to protesting fans
CHAD.co.uk, by Tim Morriss, 7 Dec 2007

STEPHEN Booth, the new chief executive at Mansfield Town, has called on fans not to boycott and protest at matches.
On Thursday fans groups reaffirmed their decision to stage a protest ahead of Saturday's visit by Bury to Field Mill - again calling on supporters not to attend home matches while Keith Haslam owns the football club.

They are angry that Mr Haslam failed to sell to the James Derry consortium - and the underfire owner's decision to step down this week from the day-to-day running of the Stags has failed to placate them.

Mr Booth, a chartered accountant, will start his work at Field Mill in earnest on Monday to stabilise the club - reported to be on course to lose £500,000 this year - move it forward and find a buyer.

He told Chad: "If they choose to stage a protest and stay away then I would be disappointed, but not surprised.

"I am trying to overcome what has taken years to build up and I know I cannot change people's perceptions of what is happening or has happened at the club overnight.

"But I would plead with the fans not to continue their disruption because ultimately it doesn't do the club any good.

"My role is to change people's perceptions here - and I am not Keith Haslam's man.

"I now have control over running the club, the finances. I repeat, he (Keith) is not drawing a penny from the club now. He is, of course, still the majority shareholder, but I am running the club. Keith will have no input in that."

Mr Booth, who insisted the club was not in debt, added: "Once I have evaluated the finances I will issue a much fuller statement on where the club is at."

 

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