Cherries chairman applauds fans' generosity

20 March 2010 07:00
AN initiative aimed at toppling the Dean Court debt mountain has prompted almost £7,000 to be raised in less than a fortnight.[LNB] The AFC Bournemouth Dedication Scheme which calls on supporters to donate money towards clearing the club's outstanding liabilities was officially launched earlier this month.[LNB] Chairman Eddie Mitchell, who reported on March 5 that Cherries' debts stood at £846,924, revealed last month that the club faced a date in the High Court on March 31 for a winding-up petition issued by HM Revenue and Customs over arrears of £314,000.[LNB] In a bid to counteract the financial problems, the club unveiled details of the dedication scheme, which offers donors a possible cash return when Cherries sell assets, should the debts be cleared.[LNB] The new idea was given a mixed response by supporters, but 12 donors have come forward, seven via the scheme, to raise a total of £6,895. Two of them, Dean Tever-sham and Gary Bartlett, gave £500 apiece, and one un-named benefactor handed over £4,000.[LNB] Mitchell told the Echo: It's absolutely fantastic, especially those individuals that have made the journey to the club to actually pay money into the club.[LNB] We were sat here last week and somebody came in and put in £1,000. They didn't want to be mentioned they just love the club. I think there's an awful lot of people out there who feel that way. The scheme is something that's going to go on for a considerable amount of time and it's not something that has got a closing date. It's just there if people want to join in.[LNB] For further information on the scheme, visit the Dean Court club shop or contact 01202 726325.[LNB]

Source: Bournemouth_Echo