Mansfield Town manager David Holdsworth stays defiant

We have to be practical because the club's future is at stake. We must make sure we are doing things correctly

David Holdsworth

Mansfield Town manager David Holdsworth expects a tough season at Field Mill after a turbulent summer off the pitch.

Chairman Andy Perry has resigned and financial pressures means the club are working to a reduced playing budget.

The youth team set-up has also folded and the Stags have had to close their centre of excellence.

But a defiant Holdsworth told BBC Radio Nottingham: "The odds are stacked against us. It will be harder work than before but as manager I'm not scared."

On the pitch things have not been ideal either.

Holdsworth has made a host of new signings but he says the club's finances means he has not been able to bring in new faces as quickly as he would have liked.

Strikers Paul Connor and Keigan Parker, winger Ashley Cain, midfielder Tyrone Thompson and defenders Mark Preece and Steve Foster have all arrived over the summer.

But there have also been plenty of departures, with last season's top-scorer Jake Speight's move to League Two side Bradford City the most notable.

And given the financial concerns, the off-field disruptions and the fact that the Stags failed to make the play-offs last season despite a promising start, it is no surprise there does not seem to a massive amount of positivity about Mansfield's promotion chances from the Blue Square Bet Premier.

But Holdsworth is not complaining.

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I feel Holdsworth has made some good signings on a very tight budget

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"The most important things is the club's future," he said. "And the people behind the scenes have been doing their best to make sure we have a sound footing.

"We have to be practical because the club's future is at stake. We must make sure we are doing things correctly but the players we have brought in are of a good calibre.

"We are a long way from where I want to be because of the timing of those transfers. Bringing in players late is never easy to blend them with the other players but that's part of life and we have to deal with it. I'm very pleased with the personnel inside the dressing room.

"But as a manager it's been interesting and I've learned quite a lot."

Holdsworth is extremely sad to see the youth team set-up fold but says he knows the club had no choice.

"The decision was made with a heavy heart but for the best interests of the club," he said.

"We were trying to put in place a structure where children and players who play in the local leagues can have a realistic ambition of playing for the youth them.

"But that's not the case at the moment."