TEAM Mansfield have labelled John Batchelor "not a fit or proper person to own a football club".
Stags supporters vent fury over takeover bid
Minority shareholder group TEAM Mansfield have labelled prospective club owner John Batchelor "not a fit or proper person to own a football club" after his proposal to change the club's name to 'Harchester United'.
Businessman and former York City chairman Batchelor, has stated that he aims to re-brand the Stags into Sky TV's 'Dream Team' programme which tracks the fortunes of a make-believe Premier League side.
The proposal has sparked a vociferous backlash from Mansfield spectators, and after the Stags Supporters Association (SSA) had already vented their anger to the board, TEAM Mansfield made their feelings known.
A statement from the shareholders in the
Mansfield Chad said: "TEAM Mansfield cannot support any attempt by John Batchelor to purchase Mansfield Town Football Club.
"We consider that Mr Batchelor is not a fit or proper person to own a football club and that the long-term future of Mansfield Town will be put at risk if Keith Haslam sells the club to him.
"Mr Batchelor has already been responsible for taking York City into administration and has admitted that he made £120,000 from his short period of ownership of that football club."
"He has also admitted asset stripping companies and being involved with 15 other companies which have ended up in receivership, administration or liquidation."
Benefit
Batchelor believes there is method in his madness, and both the club and town on a whole would benefit significantly from the change.
"Harchester is a virtual club - Mansfield as a town and club would benefit from that name," he said.
"Fans have to accept that to have a professional club, it has to be done on a commercial basis and be profitable - Harchester is easier to promote than Mansfield - it is as simple as that.
"This would help make Mansfield more attractive to national concerns, rather than local businesses. This would help me."
Mansfield mayor Tony Egginton has been named as the football club's new non-executive chairman.
James Derry resigned the post on Friday after his attempts to complete a takeover of the League Two club collapsed for the third time.
"I am delighted to announce that, following James Derry's resignation, Tony Egginton, has agreed to become non-executive chairman of Mansfield Town Football Club," said chief executive Stephen Booth.
"I trust the people of Mansfield in general and the supporters of the Stags in particular will view this as a very positive appointment and will join me in wishing Tony every success in his new role."
