Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Mitchell salutes Lovell's pay gesture
Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell has offered a public vote of thanks to injured striker Steve Lovell after he volunteered to take a pay cut.[LNB] Lovell, who signed a one-year deal last month, has taken a 50 per cent reduction in wages after suffering a setback in his bid to regain full fitness.[LNB] The 29-year-old was last week forced to go under the knife for a second operation on his troublesome ankle after breaking down during a light jogging session.[LNB] Despite passing a medical after having surgery to the joint in April, Lovell's hopes of returning to the fold during pre-season were dashed by an unforeseen complication.[LNB] Just 12 months ago, Lovell spent six weeks with Cherries on an unpaid basis and turned down offers from seven other clubs as he waited for their transfer embargo to be lifted.[LNB] However, despite offering to play for free, the Football League put the block on him signing for Cherries before he eventually reunited with brother Eddie Howe last month.[LNB] Mitchell told the Daily Echo: It is a great gesture from Steve. There was a bit of toing and froing by the club last year which may have inconvenienced him so that makes it even more of a gesture.[LNB] As a board, we would rather be paying him a full wage and have him playing. But this situation has arisen and Steve's stance is very much appreciated.[LNB] Mitchell added: The nature of the profession makes most players want to grab anything they can, while they can and I can understand that. They never know what is around the corner and something quite trivial can end a player's career.[LNB] We didn't ask Steve to take a cut but I think it just shows the Howe family's dedication to helping this club go forward.[LNB]
