John Radford (businessman)

In 2010, Radford invested into Mansfield Town from then-owners Steve Hymas, Steve Middleton and chairman Andy Saunders, purchasing the club for £1.^[1] The club's ground Field Mill (known as One Call Stadium for sponsorship purposes) remained in ownership of Keith Haslam until Radford's purchase in 2012.^[2] Then a Football Conference side, Radford promised to return them to the Football League, which was achieved in 2013.^[3][4][5]

Radford created controversy by appointing his then-girlfriend Carolyn Still, whom he later married,^[6][7] to the position of Chief Executive Officer at the football club in September 2011.^[8][1]

When buying, Radford had pledged to invest £500,000 into the club; his investment, however, was higher at an estimated £100,000 per month. He had already given the club £250,000 to save it from administration.^[9][10]

In February 2013, following an 8–1 win for Mansfield against Barrow, Radford donated an Aston Martin DB9 car valued at £80,000 to manager Paul Cox as a reward. Radford had wanted to reward Cox for improving on the previous season when they had beaten Barrow, 7–0.^[11][12][13] Cox departed in November 2014 by "mutual consent".^[14]

In early 2018, Radford announced a business proposal to establish a six-floor hotel at the club's stadium, in conjunction with an international brand.^[15] No formal planning application had been submitted to Mansfield District Council at the time of discussions at the club's ground,^[16] but a later application was authorised by the council in July 2018.^[17]

Radford announced his intention to proceed with a hotel project after his previous plan to build on the town's old bus station in mid-2017 was unsuccessful, with the local council choosing another developer as 'preferred bidder'.^[18][19][16]