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| Thursday 24th January 2008 | ||||||
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Magpies in talks over new ground The Poole-based property developer made the announcement at a fans' forum on Wednesday. Mitchell staged the meeting at the newly-named Jewson Stadium to answer supporters' questions following the resignation of seven directors. During a discussion about the viability of the Magpies' current home, Mitchell said: "I did not really want to comment on this but I have had negotiations with the Duchy of Cornwall and Tesco linked to moving to a ground with a system to support itself." The majority shareholder said he has conducted three feasibility studies on suggested sites and is due to meet Duchy representatives before the end of this month. He admitted he is unlikely to proceed with plans to build a gym and restaurant at the stadium despite having won planning permission rights late last year. Mitchell said he "could not see a new stadium this side of three or four years". Tesco took an interest in Town's old Avenue ground, inspiring the Magpies to move a few hundred metres to their current venue in 1990. The supermarket on the site of the old ground opened around the same time. Mitchell refused to rule out welcoming Weymouth to groundshare with the Blue Square South club. "This ground is used every other fortnight," he said. "It makes common sense if both played here. But I doubt it would happen." He would not rule out a merger with the Terras if it meant the current standard of football surviving in the area. At the meeting, which lasted two hours, Mitchell claimed he has so far invested £200,000 into the club. Three ex-directors - Sam Harris, David Grassby and former chairman Eddie Belt - were in attendance. Mitchell admitted the split came when the vast majority of the former board were unable to meet an extra financial commitment caused by a shortfall in the budget. "The buck stops with me and I wanted to do it my way," said Mitchell. "If I am captain of the ship I want to steer it as I have been doing with my businesses for the last 20 years." The former directors will meet their original pledges made for the season. At the beginning of the meeting, Mitchell recounted how he paid £78,000 for a 51 per cent shareholding in the club when he came on board in the summer. He also said AFC Bournemouth have approached him to get involved at the Fitness First Stadium, but he admitted there is still work to do at Dorchester. He said: "I gave an undertaking I would leave the club in the condition I found it. And I will stick to those promises." Mitchell is unlikely to appoint new directors and instead will rely on the club's current full-time employees and ex-board members for assistance in running the club.
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