Archived News from February 2008
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SPOOF CALVER NEWSLETTER TARGETS HASLAM
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Football club owner targeted by spoof village newsletter
Matlock Mercury, 22Feb2008 http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/Football-club-owner-targeted-by.3806602.jp A CALVER resident has been targeted by angry football fans with the publication of a spoof village newsletter. The anonymously-produced 'Keep Calver Smiling' has been sent out in advance of the trial of Mansfield Town Football Club owner Keith Haslam in Chesterfield on Tuesday. Mr Haslam, who denies failing to provide a specimen at the roadside and failing to provide a specimen at a police station on November 11 at Chesterfield, has enraged some Mansfield Town supporters during his 15-year tenure at the club. He is now embroiled in the increasingly protracted sale of the club, though fans are sceptical that he intends to sell. The newsletter has reportedly been sent to homes in Calver and to MPs, and provides details for villagers of fans' complaints against Mr Haslam's running of the football club. It also targets people who have backed him, including Mansfield MP Alan Meale. The newsletter calls Mr Haslam's trial "the single biggest social event for Calver in 2008". The Mercury reported two years ago that fans of Mansfield Town - nicknamed The Stags - had placed signs in the village urging Haslam to leave the club. Campaign group Stags Fans For Change (SFFC), which has been behind some of the previous 'Haslam Out' protests - although not the signs - has denied involvement with the newsletter. A spokesman for the SFFC said: "If the SFFC was responsible for this our logo would have been proudly displayed just as it is on our banners, flags and the Haslam Times (mini newspaper), which we have distributed at home matches. "We can understand supporters losing patience with the incredibly drawn out saga over the sale of MTFC and feeling that they have to do something, anything, to make Keith Haslam's life more uncomfortable, just as he has made life uncomfortable for MTFC fans." Mr Haslam confirmed on Friday that he had received the newsletter, but he was not prepared to comment on it. Mansfield are currently facing a battle to stay in the Football League and are second from bottom in League Two. ----------- Spoof Calver newsletter targets Stags' owner CHAD.co.uk, By Tim Morriss, 22 Feb 2008 ANGRY Stags fans have produced a spoof village newsletter to step up the pressure on underfire Mansfield Town owner Keith Haslam. Full story at ---> http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Spoof-Calver-newsletter-targets-Stags39.3804806.jp Supporters have been waiting for 18 months for the unpopular Mr Haslam to accept one of several bids for the Stags over that time - and he is currently considering two firms offers. But the fed-up fans remain sceptical that he intends to end his near 15-year tenure at Field Mill by agreeing a sale. The newsletter - titled 'Keep Calver Smiling' - has been sent to many homes in the Derbyshire village of Calver, where Haslam lives. It has also been reportedly sent to MPs and others. It provides details for villagers of fans' complaints against the owner's running of the football club and targets people who have backed him, including Mansfield MP Alan Meale. The newsletter also makes reference to Mr Haslam's forthcoming trial at Chesterfield Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Haslam denies failing to provide a specimen at the roadside and failing to provide a specimen at a police station on 11th November at Chesterfield. Campaign group Stags Fans For Change (SFFC), which has been behind some of the previous 'Haslam Out' protests, has denied involvement with the newsletter. A spokesman for the SFFC said: "If the SFFC was responsible for this our logo would have been proudly displayed just as it is on our banners, flags and the Haslam Times (mini newspaper), which we have distributed at home matches. "We can understand supporters losing patience with the incredibly drawn out saga over the sale of MFTC and feeling that they have to do something, anything, to make Keith Haslam's life more uncomfortable, just as he has made life uncomfortable for MTFC fans." |
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