Steve Evans unveiled as new Mansfield Town manager

Steve Evans has been unveiled as the new Mansfield Town manager and pledged the club will “not be in League Two for long” under his leadership.

The former Leeds United manager replaces Adam Murray who only left the club on Monday.

At his unveiling this afternoon Evans said: “I have joined Mansfield Town with the plan to not be in League 2 for very long.

“Fans will quickly realise I am a very passionate manager and I ask them to show the same passion for their club.

“Everyone in the club will have an opportunity to prove themselves.”

Murray left of his own accord after a meeting with Chairman John Radford, ending a 14-year association with the Stags.

Radford said: “We knew we had to act quickly, we are an ambitious club and who better than Steve Evans if you are looking for promotion.

“We wanted experience, a proven record and ambition from a new manager.”

New boss Evans also took the chance to acknowledge his predecessor.

“I have great respect for Adam Murray and all of the work he has done here.

“You don’t have respect in football, you have to earn it, and Adam has done that.”

Evans said he was now “in a hurry” to steer the club into League One.

“I remember games here in the past and this was a difficult stadium to play at that – that is what we want to create again, we want to make it a difficult afternoon for whoever comes here.

“We have not come as a management team to do something in six weeks, this is a project.”

Evans will be bringing Nottingham-born Paul Raynor with him who started his career at Nottingham Forest.

Raynor said: “It is nice to be back in Nottingham, I haven’t lived here since I left at 19 so I am looking forward to this new challenge.”

Mansfield Town are currently sat in 18th in League Two but both the new manager and the chairman are hoping for much bigger things.

Evans said: “We can achieve championship status, we will need the support of everyone but it is possible.

“It’s going to be tough and have the odd referee go for us which would be the first in six years.

“Give us an opportunity, come and get behind the team we are going to live and breathe this project.”

Evans brought Crawley Town from non-league to League Two and brought the club a memorable FA Cup run that saw them play Manchester United at Old Trafford in the 5th round, bringing in more than £1 million.

He won back-to-back promotions to the Championship with Rotherham and managed to keep the club up during their first season in the Championship, famously wearing a sombrero, shorts and sandals on the last day of the season.

The Scot saved Leeds from relegation but was sacked by Chairman Massimo Cellino.

Evans has been known for being a colourful and controversial character who has served multiple touchline bans during his managerial career.

The 54-year-old ended his playing days at the age of 24 due to a serious knee ligament injury.

Evans will be on the touchline for the Stags Saturday when they take on his former club Crawley Town in League 2.