John Radford (businessman)

John Radford
Radford on the terraces at Field Mill football ground, Mansfield in 2015
Born	John Lawrence Radford 1965 (age 57–58) Mansfield, England
Occupation(s)	Chairman, Mansfield Town Owner, One Call Insurance
Spouse	Carolyn Still ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	3

John Lawrence Radford (born 1965) is an English businessman and owner of Mansfield Town Football Club, which he bought in 2010. He also founded and is CEO of One Call Insurance, which sponsors Mansfield Town Football Club.

Mansfield Town

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]

Hotel projects

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]}

References

1. "Football's youngest CEO stands by her Mansfield". The Guardian. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
2. "Radford outlines future vision at Field Mill". Nottingham Post . 5 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2016.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
3. "Mansfield Town celebrates Football League return". BBC News. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
4. "Doncaster businessman Radford seals Mansfield takeover". BBC News. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
5. "Smiles after Scandal as Mansfield's First Lady Prepares to Welcome Liverpool". The Independent. 5 January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014– via HighBeam Research.
6. "Stags owners announce they are expecting twins". Chad. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2016. The pair married in July 2012 and announced in April of last year that Carolyn was expecting
7. "John Radford and Carolyn Still are married". Stags.net. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
8. 'We want to stay at Field Mill', Mansfield Chad (local newspaper) 19 October 2011, pp.4-5. "New Stags chief executive Carolyn Still gave her first interview to the media over the club's stadium plans on Saturday". Retrieved 24 February 2018
9. Burt, Jason (5 January 2013). "Mansfield Town chief executive Carolyn Radford ensures girl power is thriving ahead of FA Cup tie with Liverpool". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
10. "Stags find a benefactor". www.footballeconomy.com. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
11. "Mansfield 8-1 Barrow". BBC Sport. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
12. "Mansfield Town chairman gives Aston Martin to manager". BBC News. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
13. "Mansfield 7-0 Barrow". BBC Sport. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
14. "Boss Paul Cox departs Mansfield Town by mutual consent". Chad. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
15. Plans for multi-million pound hotel at Mansfield Town FC to be discussed at meeting Nottingham Post , 6 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018
16. A third hotel could be in the pipeline for a Notts town Nottingham Post , 28 January 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018
17. New hotel incorporating 100 bedrooms, restaurant and food and beverage areas, Leisure Suite, ticketing area and club shop Mansfield District Council Planning decision, 4 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018
18. Luxury brand Hilton to build a new hotel at Mansfield Town FC Nottingham Post , 30 July 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018
19. Stags confirm plans for 108-bed hotel in Mansfield Chad, 3 November 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018