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Archived News from January 2008

SFFC ON MIDDLESBROUGH GAME
22nd January 2008 8:52


No extra 'Haslam out' demo at cup tie
CHAD.co.uk, 21Jan2008
PROTESTING Stags fans say there will be no major demonstration against owner Keith Haslam at Saturday's televised FA Cup tie with Premiership Middlesbrough.

Some supporters thought the Fourth Round clash, being screened live on BBC 1, would have been an ideal focal point for the continued protests against Mr Haslam - with the hope they would be shown on national television.

However, the BBC ignored the anti-Haslam banners and protests when it screened the Stags' Second Round tie live at Harrogate Railway in December.

And campaigning group Stags Fans For Change (SFFC) has this week said it would not be calling for an extra demonstration against the owner, whom they have been urging to quit Field Mill.

The SFFC will be protesting outside the ground along the grass verge on Quarry Lane, as it did last Saturday against Darlington.

A spokesman said: "We are not calling for a major demonstration, we are simply notifying the people who support Mansfield Town Football Club that we will be there. Our flags and banners will be there and if the BBC would like to take pictures of them they will be very welcome.

"If any supporter wants to join us, we will be glad to see you there.

"Some people have asked if we are planning any major demonstrations inside the ground. The simple answer is 'No'. We are only to well aware that the owner of our club, whether attending matches or not, whether working at the club or not, whether taking any money out of the club or not, has tasked the stewards with ensuring that as our particular banners and flags are a dangerous health and safety risk, 'they shall not pass!'

"The presence of SFFC is for two things. Firstly to let Keith Haslam know that we have not gone away yet, and certainly have no intentions of doing so, and secondly we need to show Stephen Booth that we are heartily sick of his style of running MTFC, too.

"Two weeks to go in the transfer window and no players have arrived whilst our relegation rivals are taking players that we appear to have shown an interest in. Once again Billy Dearden is hamstrung by the people who need to back him financially, no contracts beyond the end of this season is a clear recipe for disaster.

"SFFC will not condemn those who choose to go into the ground and support the team, we all make personal choices. We would hope, however, that those going in will join in with any legal protesting during the game and make their feelings about Haslam and Booth quite clear."

 

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