Haslam Responds

In a week which has seen both Barker and manager Peter Shirtliff have their say on the £80,000 Hartlepool bid, that was accepted by the Stags, for the services of Richie Barker, Owner Keith Haslam has now come out and put his side to the story out, speaking in this weeks Mansfield Chad, Haslam said "Peter and Richie have both commented on it and as far as I am concerned it is now dead and buried.

"Richie had the chance to speak to Hartlepool and he was made an offer.

"He chose to go up there and in the end he didn't want to leave the club and that was the end of the story.

Barker has commented that he never wanted to leave the club, and his hand was somewhat forced. It now remains to be seen if Hartlepool will try again during the January transfer window.

The Stags favourite received an excellent reception during the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley last time out, with Haslam feeling the full force of supporters anger over the whole episode.

Haslam responded to the chants in a typical defiant manner "I don't know why there was all the 'hoo-ha' on Saturday when neither party wanted him to go in the end.

"Some people were just using this as a vehicle to have a go at me rather than the football club."