Mansfield Town

Mansfield Town chairman John Radford is hopeful that the club will come close to breaking even at the end of the current season.

Mr Radford has transformed the club’s fortunes since taking over the Stags in September 2010 and helped propel the club’s return to the Football League in 2013.

The club’s accounts for 2012-13, which are set to be presented to shareholders at an Annual General Meeting at One Call Stadium tonight (Wednesday), record a loss of almost £1.2m. Last season’s financial forecast is expected to show a deficit of around £700,000, with the figure anticipated to decrease even further by the end of the current season.  It is expected to be the strongest financial showing for years.

Mr Radford said that considerable strides had been made in reducing losses and improving turnover.

He said: “The club’s commercial activity is continuing to improve and we have also seen a better utilisation of the playing squad this season.

“The club is in a better financial state and we should be much closer to breaking even by the end of this season.

“We hope to achieve this figure whilst ensuring that our resources towards the playing side are competitive in Sky Bet League Two.”

Finance director James Beachill said: “The only real concern is that attendances have fallen this season. Good home gates are the ‘bread and butter’ of any football club.

“Our commercial sponsors continue to be the main cash-injectors of the club.  We need the support of the Mansfield public to back the club to enable it to move forward even further.”