Manager Nigel Clough has called the club’s plans to renovate the Bishop Street Stand at One Call Stadium ‘brilliant news’ as Stags aim to further maximise the capacity of its home ground.
Owners John and Carolyn Radford announced the plans at Sunday evening’s Annual Awards Dinner and – whilst plans are at a very early stage – the aim is to have the new stand in place for the start of the 2025-26 season.
Speaking to iFollow Stags this afternoon at RH Academy, Nigel said: “It’s great. I know it has been discussed for quite some time.
“I think the chairman’s probably been waiting for promotion and then to go ahead with it.
“I think it’s brilliant news. It shows the progress the club’s been making on and off the pitch.
“It’s great news.”
With the club’s recent promotion to Sky Bet League One and Sunday’s Annual Awards Dinner at One Call Stadium, there has been much to celebrate in recent weeks.
“It’s been an incredible ten days I think,” he said.
“Since going into the MK game, winning down there, and then securing promotion it’s lovely to win the three games in a week as well.
“I think [it was] a very successful Awards Dinner on Sunday night so it’s been a brilliant ten days.”
The boss also shared his thoughts on the recently announced Open Top Bus Parade which will take place in Mansfield on Sunday.
“It’s another nice way to celebrate things in the town and see people.
“I hope the weather is okay but it’s a mark of the club’s achievements.”
On team news ahead of this Saturday’s match at Barrow, Nigel said: “Will Swan [is definitely ruled out] with his ankle that he hurt in the warm-up at the Accrington game,” the gaffer added.
“It will be pretty much the same 18, we’ll see how George Williams is with his Achilles, but we certainly won’t risk him.
“Elliott [Hewitt] is 50/50 I would think but whether it’s worth risking him being in the squad.
“He’s just got a bit of tendonitis where he’s just done a little bit too much on his knee.
“He’ll have a good rest and then get ready again for next season.”
Speaking in more detail on the match, he said: “We need a positive result. We’re in second place at the moment and we’d like to stay there.
“Runners-up is – in the company of this division – and the strength of the league this year – it would be a wonderful achievement on the back of the promotion.”
With the season nearing its end, Nigel revealed that contract negotiations will be taking place with members of his playing squad in the upcoming days.
“We’re just starting negotiations this week which is another advantage of getting it [promotion] done early.
“Simon [Clough] will be talking to agents and so on and trying to secure one or two, so the process is just starting now.”
