Having loaned the previous regime £30,000 to help pay player wages, a debt that was passed on to the Murry Group when they took over from Baker and company, John Piper looks as if he is about to send in the baliffs to Dean Court to recover good to the value he is reported to be owed - some £20,000.
Speaking in the Bournemouth Evening Echo, Piper is quoted as saying: "As far as I am concerned, they are just being bloody-minded. This is my current working capital and I need it. I’ve got no alternative but to instruct High Court bailiffs to levy. I am particularly disappointed that the company has reneged on every arrangement and every facility which I have given them to pay off the debt. Through the Daily Echo, they have recently reported a profit across two months. Also, attendances for home matches are considerably increased on what would have been budgeted for".
Club Chairman, Eddie Mitchell is quoted as saying: "It’s disappointing for us that we can’t pay in instalments but we’ve got to find it. If we can’t find it then the door is open for Mr Piper to enforce whatever action he can enforce. We’re going to do our utmost to find it. The club is only going to find the money from resources it can sell or offer. It’s not going to find the money from the board. The board is going to work tirelessly to get the money but it’s not going to come out of the board’s pockets. Mr Piper has made his claim and got his judgement. If he ends up putting the bailiffs in to take all the shirts for his security because we can’t pay him then that will have to be the case. We’re hoping it’s not going to be the case. We’re working hard and tirelessly not to make it the case".