Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Mitchell: Government should restructure game
CHERRIES chairman Eddie Mitchell believes the government should be coming to the aid of ailing football clubs.[LNB] Mitchell was speaking after the plight of Accrington Stanley hit home during his visit to the Crown Ground on Saturday.[LNB] While Cherries and their League Two rivals are both suffering acute financial difficulties, Mitchell believes the Dorset outfit has never had it so good, in comparison.[LNB] He told the Daily Echo: We dont know how lucky we are to have what weve got. There is no comparison and I feel for the people of Accrington because of the situation they are in.[LNB] In my opinion, it is disgraceful that it has come to this. The club is at the heart of the town and should have money invested in it by the government.[LNB] Its up to the government to restructure the game and I see it all over the country. It was the same with Dorchester in the Blue Square South. These football grounds are smack in the middle of towns and a lot of them are falling apart.[LNB] If only the government could see a way to invest into the hubs of communities, it would help keep youngsters off the streets and give them somewhere to go to enjoy themselves.[LNB] Its such a shame. Its not as if these are out-of-town places where nobody wants to go. They are all on the doorsteps of towns and cities. A lot of them in the lower leagues and non-league are dilapidated.[LNB] The people at Accrington were lovely and it was so sad to see what they are stuck with. If I were in a position to throw money away like some people in the game, I would invest in these places.[LNB] You could see what the football club meant to those people and they had a strong belief in their club. But nobody wants to invest in it and its just dying a death. The government should step in to help.[LNB]
