LONDON (AFP) - Mansfield Town football club, named after the English Midlands town of the same name, have gone under that banner since 1910 together with the accompanying nickname of 'the Stags', a reference to the team's crest which appears on their shirts.

Never having played in the top-flight, they've rarely been the subject of much attention from the rest of English football.

But all that has changed recenly when the prospective new owner of the club, second bottom in the whole three tiers of England's senior professional Football League competition, announced plans to rename them 'Harchester United' - the name of a fictional side in the British television series 'Dream Team'.

John Batchelor believes the new name would make Mansfield "more promotable". The businessman changed York City's name to York City Soccer Club when he was in charge of the Yorkshire club in a bid to attract American investment.

However, Tony Egginton - the mayor of Mansfield and the club's non-executive chairman - was far from impressed by talk of a new name.

"I think the takeover is quite possible and feasible but to think about changing the name of the club is absolutely bizarre to say the least and I think it is a PR stunt for Mr Batchelor," Egginton told Sky Sports.

"I don't think it could happen, I think Football League rules prevent it from happening. I am not versed well enough in league rules but I don't think the Football League would allow a change of name just like that.

"I know he previously did it at York City but we will have to see. The people of the town would be devastated. It has been a football club for many, many years now and it is just absolutely ridiculous to think about changing the name as it distances the club from the fans, who aren't at all interested in changing the club's name."