Cherries: Our finances are fine says Mitchell

7:00am Saturday 9th March 2013 in Latest Sport Photograph of the Author By Neil Perrett

EDDIE Mitchell has moved swiftly to reassure supporters over Cherries’ financial position following one of the most testing periods of his chairmanship.

Mitchell, who today celebrates his 59th birthday, this week saw no fewer than 10 members of staff leave the club, with the majority made redundant.

The departures prompted some suggestions that the club could be heading for financial meltdown, claims Mitchell has steadfastly rejected.

“It has certainly not been my best week,” said Mitchell. “When it comes to dealing with human beings and laying people off, it is tough to make those decisions and very hard to sit and explain the situation to people.

“I felt the club needed to streamline to be more effective off the field. It was probably my fault that we found too much fat on the meat and I realised we needed to trim it back. We have to look towards making the club sustainable for many years to come and it is my job to do that.

“The financial situation at the club is fine. The support and sponsorship for the club is where it was three or six months ago. The fact of the matter is that, as a board, we have a responsibility to keep the club in check and, in doing so, sometimes it means re-adjusting. It is not just personnel and there are other things we need to look at and re-address. There are lots of things we need to consider going forward.

“In future, we will look more carefully at what we commit to. I wouldn’t say there is any desperate need to look for further cuts in personnel. But there are always budgets to look at and we will continue to do that.

“I will always meet my responsibilities and, if there are changes needed, I won’t shy away from them. In the future, I am sure there will be tough decisions to be made on various things but that is my job and has been for three-and-a-half years. To date, I have fulfilled that role.”

Mitchell, who insisted promotion was still very much the aim, has overseen a remarkable transformation in the club’s fortunes since taking a controlling interest in June 2009.

Asked whether the streamlining would impact on manager Eddie Howe’s squad, Mitchell replied: “We give Eddie a budget and expect him to work within it. At the moment, I would say we are pretty much doing that.

“But if there is money to be saved on the pitch then we would look to save it. We know we have got a decent-sized squad and have got to work with that squad to get the best results.

“You can never account for injuries and various other things so, at this moment in time, we are relatively comfortable. We are working with Eddie to get it right and to continue our progress up the league.

“Promotion is very much my aim and I am sure it is Eddie’s as well. As a supporter and chairman of the club, I want to go up and I want to go up before the play-offs – end of story.”

Comments(30)

pokesdown1 says...
7:16am Sat 9 Mar 13

Happy Birthday Edward.

How about a pitch walk-on ,before kick-off that is.

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mattbo says...
7:41am Sat 9 Mar 13

I would like to believe u Mr Mitchell I really would I spoke to someone who works at the club he said he couldnt say anything but I then asked him had the sh** hit the fan he said no but it could have he like most is happy to still have a job

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the jaguar says...
8:14am Sat 9 Mar 13

Thats fine Eddie so why make redundant a loyal servant for over 20 years who only went on the payroll recently and produces a great programme , has great rapport with us fans and players. A person who has helped this club and who's pictures are part of its recent history. If redundancies are to be made why not set the example at the top and start cutting out family members who contribute diddly squat and are the laughing stock of the fans.
And are we going to have a new company Seven Printing or Black Label Printing to extend the empire. Come on get real you can fool some of the people some off the time but not....

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jayeff says...
8:15am Sat 9 Mar 13

With a large playing staff by Division one standards it is doubtful whether the club can cover the costs on the gates they get. Handouts by a Russian gentleman will soon be used up. I presume Mitchell is aware of this hence the trimming of staff

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Ferndown Steve says...
8:18am Sat 9 Mar 13

Game on today - I believe !

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AFCB_Lanky says...
8:33am Sat 9 Mar 13

Ferndown Steve wrote:
Game on today - I believe !
I read that first time as game off today, got a bit worried. Looking forward to it though.

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DansAFCB says...
8:50am Sat 9 Mar 13

YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE GROVES REDUNDANT MITCHELL!!!! NOT LOYAL STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN HERE YEARS! GROVES COULD HAVE BROKE THIS CLUB! So come on Eddie explanations on a postcard as to why PG Tips is still here and the boy Tom?
I am disgusted by this news!!!!!!!!!!

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ging999 says...
9:05am Sat 9 Mar 13

Read into what he doesn't actually say.
He says "It was probably my fault that we found too much fat on the meat"
But the fattiest parts of the meat are still there.
He says "But if there is money to be saved on the pitch then we would look to save it"
Yes, this is players leaving.
Despite this statement, I still don't feel at all confident about matters.
We have to get the 3pts today to cheer us up again.

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Wilkie says...
9:12am Sat 9 Mar 13

How many more times does it have to be stressed that Groves & Brookes have 2 years left on their contract and will have to be paid whether they work for the club or not. However, Tom Mitchel should be gone as it was gross incompetence for him to have awarded 2 nobodies contracts that should have been 6 month rolling. Give us Tom's head on a plate Mr Mitchel and you will see some of the confidence in what you are doing return.

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redboob says...
9:36am Sat 9 Mar 13

"It was probably my fault that we found too much fat on the meat and I realised we needed to trim it back."

so other loyal servants to the club who were working for nothing through administration and who've been loyal to the club for years before you and your sons showed up, pay for your mistakes with their careers while

mitchells continue to discard the soul and the heart from the club, out of touch with fans - while the nepotism continues - how about trimming some fat in the form of your sons mitchell, harvesting tidy sums from the club to fund their flash lifestyles - now there's a tough decision you're not tough enough to make eh mitchell

i don't like how you operate mitchell and don't like MY club anymore with you as chairman

forget the training pitches and the car park, forget promotion - i want the family club with a sense of involvement that i used to know back

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sea poole says...
10:05am Sat 9 Mar 13

redboob...when was that nostalgia? When we were docked 17 points? When we were heading for the Conference...? When we dropped our coins into the buckets? When bradbury was appointed? When Quinn was in charge? When we lost to Blyth Spartans...on tv? Which aspect was that 'I used to know back...'?

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Square Old Codger says...
10:09am Sat 9 Mar 13

I seem to remember that Mr Mitchell was telling us all that "every thing in the garden was rosey" last year just before the publication of the Accounts shewed the true position, well the Accounts are shortly due for publication and we will all know the truth of it. It's been clear for some time that the Club's off field activities were bloated and far above what is essential and if the Club is reducing none essential expenditure , who can argue with that. I have no doubt at all that both Eddie Howe and Jason want promotion, they are ambitious men and didn't appreciate Mitchell's "snide" remark on that subject. The axe has also been taken to Mitchell's loss making other activities. BLE and Hot Radio, I suspect that our Russian friends, used to running sucessful, profitable businesses have said no more subsidies from AFCB and have been apying pressure. Max Demin has after all the casting vote! .

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bollybear says...
10:12am Sat 9 Mar 13

" I will always meet my responsibilities"

Is that why he has been bankrupt so many times ? Cannot believe a word.

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Afcbpete says...
10:29am Sat 9 Mar 13

What a load of old drivel Mitchell, that's why we STILL have a Director of Football that's useless and not needed. Yet one of US in Mick Cunningham gets culled. Too angry to write what I'd like, it would get taken off...

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Wilkie says...
10:34am Sat 9 Mar 13

Mr Mitchel, it was obviously Max Denim that gave the strict directive that the operational costs needed to be cut by a %. He seems to be a man that will tolerate a situation for so long and then, when he has worked out that things need changing, he demands that things are changed quickly. If it was left to Michel he would have continued with the bloated off field set up for as long as he could in the knowledge that it was Maxim's money and not hs that was funding it. I personally welcome the cull, despite the fact that it has caused some upset along the way.

I do not believe that thee has been a total falling out between Eddie and Maxim although it is obvious that their relationship has cooled to say the least. I think that Maxm has worked out some of Eddies shortcomings and is managing him. However, let's not ignore the fact that it is due to Eddie Mitchel that we now have a stadium and surrounds that the town can be proud of and only Eddie Mitchel could have cut through the red tape and NIMBY opposition and had the energy to deliver the new training pitch. Let's not write off the Maxim/Eddie partnership just yet, it could still work well.

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pokesdown1 says...
11:03am Sat 9 Mar 13

How many times has The Big Mitch been made bankrupt?

Anybody know?

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Couchy125 says...
11:31am Sat 9 Mar 13

After having a very long conversation with one of the staff that has been let go this week. I was shocked at the way he has been treated. This person is totally shell shocked and I feel the pain for this persons young family. I was even more shocked to learn the amount of money our so called top boys are getting. In my opinion we better go up. Because it leaves me in no dought if we don't there is trouble ahead.

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devon fan says...
11:33am Sat 9 Mar 13

most football fans find it difficult to believe what they are told by their club, because football clubs seem to think they are a law until themselves, the think they do not have to pay taxes or debts and when they run into trouble they believe the world owes them a reprieve and the fans should club together and pay for the mistakes they have made through the years, Mr Mitchell is no different that any of the other 91 league chairmen, the only time I will believe what is told me is when the announcement is made that the board of AFCB is proud to announce we have purchased the stadium back, this would make good economic sense and give the club an asset on their balance sheet

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West moors 1 says...
11:55am Sat 9 Mar 13

Lets enjoy the position the club is in now! I know the team behind the scenes is trying very hard to build a solid football club both on and off the field. Lets be positive, Mitchell has a dodgy record when it comes to business but with co owners he won't be allowed to ruin our club. Good luck for today. Up the cherries!!

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jakeysredd says...
12:21pm Sat 9 Mar 13

pokesdown1 wrote:
How many times has The Big Mitch been made bankrupt?

Anybody know?
7 times hence the name of his building company

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AFCBade says...
12:52pm Sat 9 Mar 13

jakeysredd wrote:
pokesdown1 wrote:
How many times has The Big Mitch been made bankrupt?

Anybody know?
7 times hence the name of his building company
I was told by a builder who has worked for EM in the past that the 7 isn't due to the number of redundancies. Don't know if that is true or not but sure someone can verify this.

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sea poole says...
1:07pm Sat 9 Mar 13

How strange that when things were going really well recently, there wasn't a peep out of anyone. In fact the Chairman received many compliments by readers. Now that the issue of redundancy has arisen, the bile and snarls have reappeared with libellous statements. Who'd be a Chairman? I was critical in my opposition to many of the Chairman's actions -but at least I expressed those to his face at a meeting...not hidden behind anonymity.

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Avengerboy says...
3:24pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Football clubs and dodgy finances ..... hand in hand historically.

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smhinto says...
5:03pm Sat 9 Mar 13

You can all imagine my surprise, shock, awe and wonderment at todays result can't you.
.
Season over.
.
Everybody around us has won.
.
I refer you all to my posts on Thursday and Friday.
.
Serves you all right to those who argued with me..
.
My thanks to you who along with me saw the light.
.
Next season is now our only hope.
.
Regards to all

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redporker says...
7:01pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Same old, same old no plan B, Grabban again no commitment and does not look bothered the same as last week, needs to warm the bench for a few weeks. Tubbs again scores so why not bite the bullet and give him a run of games, We are making too many mistakes and teams have worked us out it's always the same pattern of play. look at the teams we have played when thay have chances it's in the bcak of the net.
Is this about as good as it get's with Eddie good side and attractive football but not good enough to go anywhere ? Maybe ?

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afcdibby says...
7:17pm Sat 9 Mar 13

smhinto wrote:
You can all imagine my surprise, shock, awe and wonderment at todays result can't you. . Season over. . Everybody around us has won. . I refer you all to my posts on Thursday and Friday. . Serves you all right to those who argued with me.. . My thanks to you who along with me saw the light. . Next season is now our only hope. . Regards to all
You say "everybody around us has won". Of the six teams above us only Doncaster and Tranmere won. Sheff Utd, Swinedon and Yeovil all drew and Brentford lost. That means 2 of the top 7 won today.

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afcdibby says...
7:20pm Sat 9 Mar 13

pokesdown1 wrote:
How many times has The Big Mitch been made bankrupt? Anybody know?
It is rumoured 6.

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jakeysredd says...
9:50pm Sat 9 Mar 13

jakeysredd wrote:
pokesdown1 wrote:
How many times has The Big Mitch been made bankrupt?

Anybody know?
7 times hence the name of his building company
Maybe six times and now its called seven, I have worked in the local building circles and that's what has been said find it strange all this going on at the club,

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Square Old Codger says...
10:45am Sun 10 Mar 13

jakeysredd wrote:
jakeysredd wrote:
pokesdown1 wrote: How many times has The Big Mitch been made bankrupt? Anybody know?
7 times hence the name of his building company
Maybe six times and now its called seven, I have worked in the local building circles and that's what has been said find it strange all this going on at the club,
As far as I am aware, he has never been declared bankrupt, he always trades as a limited company, six have gone into liquidation and a seventh has a reciever appointed to some of its assets. He is far too shrewd to trade on his own account.

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goatty says...
12:49pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Square Old Codger wrote:
jakeysredd wrote:
jakeysredd wrote:
pokesdown1 wrote: How many times has The Big Mitch been made bankrupt? Anybody know?
7 times hence the name of his building company
Maybe six times and now its called seven, I have worked in the local building circles and that's what has been said find it strange all this going on at the club,
As far as I am aware, he has never been declared bankrupt, he always trades as a limited company, six have gone into liquidation and a seventh has a reciever appointed to some of its assets. He is far too shrewd to trade on his own account.
He went personally bankrupt when Keddies folded.

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