Sport RSS Feed


Orient chief Hearn tells Cherries fans: Enjoy the ride

7:00am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ian Wadley

RIVAL chairman Barry Hearn gave his verdict on Cherries’ financial transformation and told the Seward Stadium faithful: “Enjoy the moment.”

Cherries hit the headlines last month after a record-breaking shopping spree saw the club recruit seven players during the January transfer window.

Boss Lee Bradbury spent an estimated £1.6m to enhance his squad with the permanent signings of Donal McDermott, Matt Tubbs, Scott Malone, Wes Thomas, Charlie Daniels, Simon Francis and Steve Cook.

That bumper business was in stark contrast to the summer when Cherries sold a host of their leading players – and it came just months after Russian businessman Maxim Demin had joined chairman Eddie Mitchell as co-owner of the Dorset club.

Long-serving Orient chief Hearn, who sold Daniels to Cherries, insists supporters should make the most of the upturn in fortunes.

Speaking ahead of Orient’s visit to Seward Stadium tonight (7.45pm), Hearn told the Daily Echo: “It is great for any team to find someone who is prepared to pour in a load of money to what I call lower-division football. I think it is commendable and everyone should be grateful and enjoy it.

“I wouldn’t criticise it. There will always be sceptics out there saying ‘what happens if?’, but those are sad people. What you have got to do is enjoy the moment.

“People are talking about Bournemouth, they are playing a good quality of football and getting some good performances.

“As long as the money is going into the club on a long-term basis, then I think everyone should get behind the owners, applaud them and say thank you very much.”

Sports promoter Hearn added: “Apart from signing one of the best left-backs outside of the Championship (Charlie Daniels), Bournemouth have got some other quality players there and are having a good go at it. So, enjoy the moment – that is what sport is all about.

“Whether Bournemouth win tonight, we will wait and see, but it will be a decent game between two decent sides in the division, both of whom are probably top-seven teams rather than where they are currently.”

Speaking to the Daily Echo following Cherries’ January spending, Mitchell said: “The club belongs to the supporters – and myself and Max are managing it.

“We have found good fortune to have investment to spend on players and, providing the supporters back us and come in numbers, they will get better football.”

Comments(24)

Ferndown Steve says...
7:32am Tue 14 Feb 12

It's a real shame the echo didn't lead with the other Cherries 'footballing' story in my opinion - The match tonight is far more important and needs promoting, rather than the comments by Hearn !!

UTC

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

mrsrat says...
7:53am Tue 14 Feb 12

I think comments from Mr Hearn are very welcome...they are very few and far between, and tonights game will take care of itself and anyway whilst it is nice for us to have the backing of 2 wealthy men, Mr Mitchell said the money he has spent on players has come from the earlier sales of his managers and players.
Darned good business I reckon!
...but don't asked where the money has come from that has absolutely transformed the infrastructure of our Club.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Square Old Codger says...
8:11am Tue 14 Feb 12

As Mr Hearn says sit back and enjoy the ride. He also says "as long as the money is going into the Club on a long term basis" and that is the 64 dollar question. We were recently told that we are "borrowing to invest - albeit from a "friendly source" , it's probable that the lending is secured, and is Max Demin actually investing ? Certainly the proceed of the sale of the team are insufficent to pay off the debts incurred, pay for the infrastructure improvements and buy players and increase the wages budget. Given yesterdays sad news of Portsmouth's and Rangers going into "Admin" many of us are concerned by just how little we know of the Club's finances. But, enjoy it whilst we can. But we can at least thank EM for giving the Portsmouth owners to cold shoulder! when they came calling.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Pandasfromhell says...
8:25am Tue 14 Feb 12

I think it would be fair to say that this time the faithful at afcb have no excuses ! No one could bring out buckets and say " It was all his/her fault and nothing to do with us " the poor supporter* this time you have the greed and the eyes are wide open ,.you have the record of the man that runs the club in front of you / the faithful are with him ( the rest that wont go anymore are not) If Glasgow Rangers can go then you lot are 100 pc to follow but this time dont cry and dont get the buckets out

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

CourtOffside says...
9:08am Tue 14 Feb 12

The same Barry Hearn that wants teams relegated TWO divisions for going into administration tells us to "sit back and enjoy the ride". Hypocritical muppet.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

CourtOffside says...
9:13am Tue 14 Feb 12

“Clubs that spend more money than they can afford, that go into administration, have been guilty of cheating, nothing less. They are fielding a team they couldn't afford to field in a level playing field situation. It is a horrible thing to say because no one wants to be accused of cheating, but we have allowed a system within football to evolve where clubs are almost incentivised to gamble.”

Barry Hearn, 2010.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

The Renegade Master says...
9:59am Tue 14 Feb 12

Pandasfromhell wrote:
I think it would be fair to say that this time the faithful at afcb have no excuses ! No one could bring out buckets and say " It was all his/her fault and nothing to do with us " the poor supporter* this time you have the greed and the eyes are wide open ,.you have the record of the man that runs the club in front of you / the faithful are with him ( the rest that wont go anymore are not) If Glasgow Rangers can go then you lot are 100 pc to follow but this time dont cry and dont get the buckets out
Why are you on here? It's clear you're a Stains fan so go back to the Southern Daily Echo site and post your drivel there ok. Thankyou.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Pandasfromhell says...
10:07am Tue 14 Feb 12

I was brought up following Millwall and i dont even know who stains are ( but seems the usual afcb childish name calling ) so i will post where and when i want .

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

marketboy says...
11:11am Tue 14 Feb 12

Ferndown Steve wrote:
It's a real shame the echo didn't lead with the other Cherries 'footballing' story in my opinion - The match tonight is far more important and needs promoting, rather than the comments by Hearn !!

UTC
It's good journalism.
If we want to attract new fans,a story like this will reinforce the positive side of AFCB,we,the regulars,already know that every game is important now.
Why not get a view from the opposing chairman,he understands sports marketing and has kept L.O afloat.
There must be plenty of chairman and managers,who would give their right arm to have our situation and plenty who are just waiting to have a swipe,
like Martin Allen of Notts County the other week. Let's enjoy!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jontee says...
11:50am Tue 14 Feb 12

The trouble is, I have seen it all before.
.
1970's Harold Walker pumped in the money which Bond spent, but it didn't stop Bond leaving and taking the team with him. Then Walker got disillusioned and the money dried up. Relegation and 7 long years in the old 4th division.
.
1980's and Harry took us to the promised land. Record transfer fees paid. Wages we could never afford on our gates in the 2nd, never mind the third. No parachute clauses for relegation which inevitably followed. We NEVER recovered from that.
.
We are told all is well because the cash has come from the previous player sales. But we have already been told those sales were needed to pay off debts and keep the club going. Both cannot be true, unless EM has found a way you can spend money twice. If that's true, would he please let me into the secret.
.
AFCB's natural home is in the third tier, prefereably spending according to their internally generated income. If that formula occasionally took us into the championship, without spending money we haven't got, I could live with that and enjoy the ride.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

ASM says...
12:31pm Tue 14 Feb 12

you can't blame managers for spending money on players, thats the chairmans job.
we sold 4 millions worth and bought 1.6 mil' we're still loaded, we just need to get rid of the surplus in our squad because the wage bill is too high because our squad is too big. You can't blame the fans for the gates, when Howe was managing us we averaged over 7000 that was because we were playing great football and we had a great team, they were all sold and we went through a very rough patch on and off the field, but in the last 2 months that has been turned around and now you will see the gates pick up. The high ticket prices don't help the gates either, nor does the 12.00 and 5.00 live games on sky every saturday.
Enjoy the ride, yes! we're making good signings but we still sold double what we bought in the last year and a half
utc

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

grocklefree says...
12:40pm Tue 14 Feb 12

Yes, it could all go wrong. Yes, we have seen it all before. But if ALL you see is despair and administration, what exactly would it take to make people happy / excited / optimistic to be following AFCB? Is the scenario people are hoping for that we sell all our players, promote the youth team to first team and see them get promoted to the Premiership ??? That’s the only truly frugal way I can imagine – is that what people are expecting?
Unless you are personally on the board or have something to do with finances no-one has ANY idea of what’s been put in / taken out / put aside. It is all pure speculation which some seem to thrive on.
I support the club and seeing as our situation has improved so much, have enough faith in those in charge to know what they are doing
Anyone who can’t cheerfully go to each match in anticipation at this time in AFCB’s history I wonder how they survive day to day after all each bus might knock you down and every appliance might blow up. Caution is one thing, sucking ALL the enjoyment out of our current situation is quite another

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Square Old Codger says...
12:57pm Tue 14 Feb 12

ASM wrote:
you can't blame managers for spending money on players, thats the chairmans job. we sold 4 millions worth and bought 1.6 mil' we're still loaded, we just need to get rid of the surplus in our squad because the wage bill is too high because our squad is too big. You can't blame the fans for the gates, when Howe was managing us we averaged over 7000 that was because we were playing great football and we had a great team, they were all sold and we went through a very rough patch on and off the field, but in the last 2 months that has been turned around and now you will see the gates pick up. The high ticket prices don't help the gates either, nor does the 12.00 and 5.00 live games on sky every saturday. Enjoy the ride, yes! we're making good signings but we still sold double what we bought in the last year and a half utc
Let's just look at the figures - the last accounts shewed debts of £3.6m assets £700,000, transfers a net £1.7m, infrastructure spending circa £1m - losses this Season, given the higher wage and administration bills ( don't forget the coaches and management added ) will probably be in the region of another £1m - particularly in light of the poorer gates this Season. It just doesn't add up, just guess work of course and we wont know the true picture until the accounts are available in a few months time. The key is of course whether Max is investing on a long term basis - or merely acting as a "friendly Banker", from recent statements the latter seems more likely. No point worrying about it though - in the words of the old song " whatever will be - will be", enjoy it whilst it lasts - but am still waiting to see the type of free flowing attractive football we enjoyed for the first half of last Season though - indeed still waiting to see a really good game this Season and can't see gates rising much further until we do..

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

LBUZZ CHERRY says...
1:18pm Tue 14 Feb 12

Pandasfromhell wrote:
I was brought up following Millwall and i dont even know who stains are ( but seems the usual afcb childish name calling ) so i will post where and when i want .
You got name calling because you were on a wind up.

Just the usual folk in Bournemouth who follow other teams and like to slag AFCB off...next!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

footballgnt says...
1:37pm Tue 14 Feb 12

Pandafromhell is a workmate and as it happens at least believes what he says and it wasn't a wind up - now HE HAS BEEN BANNED FROM POSTING AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO LOG IN AT THE ECHO that really was a shock and shows what sort of ship the echo are running for mr mitchell -FREE speech blow me

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

LBUZZ CHERRY says...
1:43pm Tue 14 Feb 12

footballgnt wrote:
Pandafromhell is a workmate and as it happens at least believes what he says and it wasn't a wind up - now HE HAS BEEN BANNED FROM POSTING AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO LOG IN AT THE ECHO that really was a shock and shows what sort of ship the echo are running for mr mitchell -FREE speech blow me
Fair enough - in answer to his question...yes we have our eyes open on this one, I won't go crying to anyone if it all falls apart..

Agree he shouldn't be banned, but very much doubt the Echo are in bed with Uncle Eddie!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

footballgnt says...
1:51pm Tue 14 Feb 12

Well thank you Miss Cherry LBuzz you gotta be shocked at that sort of ban because it was an OPINION if the echo are running a ship that says only speak one-way we are all in trouble .
I'm now wondering myself as ive seen this myself and so have other workmates just HOW MANY people have been banned from the echo in the past for OPINIONS .I for myself will NEVER BUY THE ECHO AGAIN and know i will be banned now so all beware

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

grocklefree says...
3:18pm Tue 14 Feb 12

Can't people just ignore comments if they think it's a wind up - every comments section just seems to turn into the same boring slagging match. It only persists if it's given publicity.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

The Renegade Master says...
5:41pm Tue 14 Feb 12

footballgnt wrote:
Pandafromhell is a workmate and as it happens at least believes what he says and it wasn't a wind up - now HE HAS BEEN BANNED FROM POSTING AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO LOG IN AT THE ECHO that really was a shock and shows what sort of ship the echo are running for mr mitchell -FREE speech blow me
Good to see the Echo weeding out the trolls on this site. Regular posters have become thoroughly fed up with their asinine comments, leading to a reduction in the number of people viewing the website. That's not good news for the Echo's advertising revenueso it's no surprise that they've put their foot down. Cheerio Pandasfromhell. All the best.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Nat1234 says...
6:00am Wed 15 Feb 12

Back down to earth with a bump ... Playoff hopefuls .. I don't think so ... I know I'm saying this just after a defeat.. And I know we have strung some good results lately .. I just think we still need a more experienced manager .. With the players we have got .. I think we should be playing a different system .. And we should be playing much better football than we are ..

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

cherriesfan says...
12:02pm Wed 15 Feb 12

What is this magical different system you keep on about. We either play 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 and when we attack this quickly changes to 4-2-4 with Pugh and MacDermot or Malone wide on the flanks and when Francis or Daniels joins them it makes for an even more attacking team. Perhaps you could explain what the system you want actually is and who the personnel to play the "system" are?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Tinie temple says...
5:32pm Wed 15 Feb 12

People moan when we are skint a d people moan when we have money, sure I understand the scepticism pe

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Tinie temple says...
5:34pm Wed 15 Feb 12

People moan when we are skint a d people moan when we have money, sure I understand the scepticism people have but come on, we have wanted to be able to buy players for 'larger' fees for years, we ate now one of those clubs we used to envy, can't we just smile and be happy with the situation!? Times look promising for once...

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Tinie temple says...
7:42pm Wed 15 Feb 12

grocklefree wrote:
Yes, it could all go wrong. Yes, we have seen it all before. But if ALL you see is despair and administration, what exactly would it take to make people happy / excited / optimistic to be following AFCB? Is the scenario people are hoping for that we sell all our players, promote the youth team to first team and see them get promoted to the Premiership ??? That’s the only truly frugal way I can imagine – is that what people are expecting?
Unless you are personally on the board or have something to do with finances no-one has ANY idea of what’s been put in / taken out / put aside. It is all pure speculation which some seem to thrive on.
I support the club and seeing as our situation has improved so much, have enough faith in those in charge to know what they are doing
Anyone who can’t cheerfully go to each match in anticipation at this time in AFCB’s history I wonder how they survive day to day after all each bus might knock you down and every appliance might blow up. Caution is one thing, sucking ALL the enjoyment out of our current situation is quite another
Grocklefree you are so right it hurts. Why can't we all think like this! Very much enjoyed this post.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

click2find

Most popular


About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree