Who Are... Mansfield Town FC?
The end of a 77-year stay in the Football League that came to an end in 2008 would be a bitter bill to swallow for Mansfield Town fans. Just four seasons ago, they were a game away from moving up into League One - the third tier of the League in which they'd spent a fair amount of their history. But with off-field uncertainties, the long run came to an end and Mansfield slipped out of the League a few games before the season came to a close. In reality, the side were just two points away from propping up the League alongside Wrexham.

The club announced a takeover deal in the summer of 2008 with the intention of safeguarding the club's future, and attempt to strengthen their bid to regain their Football League status at the first time of asking. The infrastructure at Field Mill will certainly rank among the best in the Blue Square Premier, and teams are going to find it a daunting place to visit throughout the season - providing the club reach their potential, which hasn't always been the case for those that have come down from League Two in recent years.

The bookies, however, didn't demonstrate much optimism for that immediate return to the League in 2009, as starting prices suggested that there were other clubs ahead in the queue for promotion. However, after points deductions and an iffy start, it would be easy to suggest that Mansfield ought to be looking at establishing themselves with a solid base for a season. They came back stronger in 2009/10 but were unable to secure a playoff berth. The club, however, are edging in the right direction.