Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Fletcher: Cherries board doing things the right way
STEVE Fletcher last night insisted it was business as usual for Cherries' stars in the face of the club's latest financial worries. Following news of another winding-up petition issued against the club by HM Revenue and Customs, off-field events have once again taken centre stage at Dean Court. Chairman Eddie Mitchell last week took the unprecedented step of opening the club's books to display the size of the challenge facing the cash-strapped League Two outfit. But despite admitting the club's money worries were a concern, Fletcher said Cherries' players were not being distracted from their bid for promotion. The club captain, Cherries' record appearance-maker, is in the perfect position to comment on such sagas. Since joining the club in July 1992, Fletcher has seen it all from receivership in 1997 to last season's miraculous Great Escape. Of course it's worrying for the supporters it's their club and it's my club, the popular 37-year-old told the Echo. It's the players' livelihoods and anybody who is involved at the club. But I do believe the people we've got in charge are doing things the right way. They've got the club organised, which it hasn't been for years since I can remember. It's going forward in the right way. We've got every confidence things will be okay but there's only so much they can do. Unfortunately, a lot of the debt is to the tax man and that's why it's probably been publicised the way it has. But it doesn't affect the lads on the field. On the field, we're focused and we're concentrating on the job in hand. The rest of the people the chairman and people working behind the scenes are doing everything they can and more to make sure that we have a club. In last Friday's Daily Echo, Mitchell revealed that Cherries' outstanding liabilities totalled £846,924 an amount he reported had been trimmed from £1.78million since he took control. Fletcher added: It's the first time in a long time that I've known the football club come out and explain to the supporters exactly how the club stands. Now they've been told everyone knows where we stand and I think with Eddie Mitchell and the people behind him, we've got more confidence than in anyone we've ever had in the past. ¢ Cherries yesterday officially launched the AFC Bournemouth Dedication Scheme. For more information visit the club shop.