Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Mitchell delighted with Lokomotiv coup
CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell has hailed as a great coup the impending arrival of two-times Russian champions Lokomotiv Moscow to Dean Court.[LNB] Cherries could get a chance to pit their wits against the Russian giants during the £150,000 EC Group Cup at Dean Court later this month.[LNB] Mitchell has established close links with the EC Group, both through his private business interests and in his capacity as Cherries chairman.[LNB] The company is stumping up around £250,000 to sponsor the four-team EC Group Cup, which takes place at Dean Court on July 16 and 17.[LNB] Lokomotiv Moscow and German third-flight outfit FC Saarbrucken have both received sponsors' invites and will be joined in the tournament by Cherries and the Glenn Hoddle Academy.[LNB] Mitchell, who confirmed the EC Group would also be paying all expenses for the competition, told the Daily Echo: It is a fantastic achievement for the club to be able to draw one of the top clubs from Russia.[LNB] It is a statement of where we are trying to go.[LNB] It will be a great event. We need the support so we can make it an annual event and bring in bigger teams each season.[LNB] It is a great coup for a club of our size to have a sponsor which is prepared to put in around £250,000. The company must believe in what we are doing.[LNB] It is a great opportunity for our supporters to watch some good, |competitive football early in the season.[LNB] Mitchell, who spent a fortnight in Russia earlier this year, added: I have some close ties with the Russian company that is sponsoring the tournament and they are more than pleased to support the club by putting up the money.[LNB] I have been to the EC Group's headquarters and have seen how they operate.[LNB] They have an 800-strong workforce within Russia and other operations elsewhere.[LNB] It is a fantastic set up.[LNB] The country is full of football fanatics and it is great Lokomotiv Moscow are enthusiastic about bringing a side here.[LNB] Cherries will kick off the EC Group Cup against the Glenn Hoddle Academy at Dean Court on Saturday, July 16 (1pm) before Lokomotiv Moscow take on Saarbrucken (3.30pm).[LNB] A third and fourth place play-off will take place at Dean Court on Sunday, July 17 (1pm) with the final being staged at 3.30pm.[LNB]
