RAFFLE ROW (From Thisisdorset)

RAFFLE ROW

7:11am Tuesday 26th February 2008

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NICK Douch claims the Playershare raffle is no longer allowed to operate at Dean Court because Playershare Ltd declined to hand over its money to Cherries' administrators.

Douch, chairman of Playershare Ltd, revealed he received a letter last week from Walker Morris, the solicitors acting on behalf of the administrators.

"Because the club needed money in administration they thought it was appropriate that Playershare should give money to the administrator," explained Douch.

"And if that was something we weren't prepared to do, the Playershare raffle could no longer collect outside the ground.

"We're a limited company and directors can't just do that. We have to give money to help the team directly, so we had to decline the request and we had to ask the Playershare raffle not to stand outside.

"We're not being difficult and, in fact, we haven't got a lot of money. The whole point of Playershare is we're not cash-rich."

Douch added: "The important point for Playershare is we've always seen ourselves as independent of the football club.

"That's important because otherwise we could end up with money going where perhaps it wasn't intended. What we can't do is give money and say you can spend that on what you like'.

"Unless the shareholders said yes', we can't do it."

The letter to Douch from the solicitors, printed on a fans' website, said: "We do not believe that it is appropriate or constructive that Playershare continue to have a presence at the club. This will take effect before the match against Cheltenham and continue until further notice. We are sure that the club and Playershare can revert to cordial relations once the club is safely out of administration."

The Playershare raffle, which is independent of Playershare Ltd, collects donations from supporters and puts the money into Playershare's pot. In the five years it has been operating, more than £47,000 has been donated via the raffle.

Cherries administrator Gerald Krasner refused to comment on the issue.

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