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Archived News from October 2011

RADFORD CONFIRMS PLAN B IS RAINWORTH MW UPGRADE
20th October 2011 19:45



Stags chairman confirms Rainworth switch plan
chad.co.uk, Saturday 15 October 2011 14:30

MANSFIELD Town chairman John Radford today confirmed his Plan B would be a move to Rainworth Miners Welfare's Kirklington Road ground if they are unable to win their legal battle for Field Mill with landlord Keith Haslam in time to be promoted.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags_chairman_confirms_rainworth_switch_plan_1_3877459

Stags are having a good season on the field but, were they to go up, need a 10-year lease on the ground to be admitted into the Football League by March.

The club's legal action with Haslam, challenging the legality of his ownership of the ground, continues to drag on and, after a confusing week which began with Mr Radford announcing the club may move to 'a newly-built stadium', his statement was later retracted and on Tuesday Stags' CEO Carolyn Still emphasised the club wanted to stay at Field Mill.

But Mr Radford insisted there was still a Plan B and in today's match programme, he said: “Following on from last week's column, and for purposes of clarification, allow me to clarify Plans A & B.

“Plan A is to keep Field Mill and whilst the court case is outstanding, we will continue to play here – have no fear of that.

“Now on to Plan B. Rules and regulations dictate that we have to tick various boxes in order to be promoted. With the helpful assistance of Rainworth Miners' Welfare– which would be the least costly alternative venue in the conurbation of Mansfield– we will be able to achieve that.

“Kirklington Road, Rainworth's ground, currently has a capacity of just over 2,000, however league rules stipulate a minimum of 4,000, which can be easily done.

“At the current time, Rainworth's ground has 250 seats. 500 are required for promotion. Again – this is easily achievable within the time frame.

“There is a large overflow car park which can easily be resurfaced. Floodlights will need upgrading, but once more, this can be done with minimum fuss.

“The manager, Paul Cox, seems to be guiding the team towards a respectable position in the league. Whilst he continues to steer the players in the right direction on the pitch, we will ensure that we have everything in place to be in a position to allow us to be promoted.

“I must place on my record my thanks to Les Lee and all the committee at Rainworth Miners Welfare for their help.”

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Carolyn Still interview with Jason Harrison on Mansfield 103.2 --->
http://soundcloud.com/mansfield-103-2-sport/

Note once this is deleted from the 103.2 webspace, it will be available in the Stagsnet archive here

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Stags Reassure Fans About Field Mill
mansfield103.co.uk, Monday 17th October, 2011

http://www.mansfield103.co.uk/sport.php?n=1536

Mansfield Town's Chief Executive has reassured fans that the club are committed to staying at Field Mill.

Chairman John Radford revealed in his programme notes at the weekend that, if talks with landlord Keith Haslam break down, they are looking at a groundshare with Rainworth Miners Welfare.

But, speaking to Mansfield 103.2 before Saturday's game with Southport, Carolyn Still said that moving away from their current ground would be very much a last resort.

She said: "It's just not really good for Mansfield as a whole to move it anywhere else so I really do urge Mr Haslam to work with us a little bit. Let's just close this off, let's just work this out."

She added that talks with Rainworth were going well, saying: "Les Lee has been great to work with and the chairman has been talking closely with them.

"We've got enough resources to be able to initialise it in time but I don't really want that to happen and I don't think anybody out there does who's here today."

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Rainworth community backs possible Mansfield Town relocation
chad.co.uk, Thursday 20 October 2011

RAINWORTH residents and community leaders have welcomed Mansfield Town FC's possible relocation to the village and believe it would boost community spirit and bring more people to the area.

http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/alfreton/rainworth_community_backs_possible_mansfield_town_relocation_1_3883943

The Stags' chairman's 'Plan B' would involve providing extra seats, turnstiles and improved floodlighting, among other improvements at Rainworth, which currently hosts Evo-Stik League Division One football.

This week, several Rainworth residents said they were in favour of the plan, although some expressed concerns over the amount of traffic it would bring through the area.

Suzanne Allsop, shop assistant at Junction Fish Bar on Southwell Road East, is a lifelong Stags supporter and said the relocation had plenty of advantages.

“I think it will be really good for everybody in the village and will put Rainworth on the map,” she said.

“We are a relatively small village so it would help business for the local shops as well as pubs.

“Some people might be worried about traffic but there is the by-pass and they could have extra parking on the old pit lane.”

A second shopkeeper, who did not wish to be named, said it would be an exciting coup for the village.

“I can't see any problems with it, there are plenty of roads out of Rainworth I don't think the number of cars coming through will be a problem,” she said.

“It could put Rainworth on the map, be great for local trading and get people into the pubs which can only be good for the village.”

But Julie Buchanan, of Fresh and Tasty on Southwell Road East, raised concerns over policing for Mansfield Town FC games.

“I don't think it will do traders any harm but it may cause traffic problems and this is already a busy road,” said Julie.

“I'd like to know if there will be extra police on duty for night games because I've been in Mansfield before when away fans have put shop windows through - does Rainworth want that?'

Robin Hood pub manager Maxine Quinton said she would welcome the added footfall in the area but was concerned about potential vandalism.

Coun John Bradbury, Newark & Sherwood district councillor for Rainworth, said he did not object but insisted that the ground's car parking should be revamped if the move materialises.

“The parking issue has to be addressed, at the moment there is parking on the main street and narrow streets but people are blocked in and if the Stags played here there would be maybe double the attendance,” he said.

“You'd also have to look at public transport, the current toilet facilities and increasing the seating. I'm not sure it would make a huge difference to traders but I think the chippy and the pub would benefit.”

Spokesmen for Newark and Sherwood District Council and the county's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) said they could not comment as no official application has been received

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twitter.com/radiorhodes Dave Rhodes 14Oct2011

#stags #mtfc The "potential" ground share with Rainworth Miners Welfare encounters its first hurdle http://tinyurl.com/3syuju8

audio - Dave Rhodes: "Newark and Sherwood District Council have told me that no expansion plans have been submitted yet by either club. Furthermore officials are keen to point out that any plan that would involve the Kirlington Road ground being expanded would stand very little chance of being granted planning permission before the start of the new football season".

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