EDDIE Mitchell admits he is envious of Portsmouth’s supporter base but has played down suggestions the two clubs once discussed the possibility of a merger.


The Daily Echo understands the proposal may have been mooted several months ago, around the time crisis-hit Pompey filed for administration in February.



At the time, the Fratton Park-based outfit was owned by Convers Sports Initiatives, a company which had tried to buy Cherries in July 2010, only to be rebuffed by Mitchell.


Pompey, who are due to host Cherries on the opening day of the season, last week had a number of sanctions imposed on them by the Football League, including a 10-point deduction.


In an interview yesterday with the Daily Echo, Mitchell politely declined to be drawn on whether Cherries had spoken with Pompey’s previous owners about a merger.


Discussing the subject in general, he said: “Eventually, I think it is the way football will go. In years to come, to stay afloat and to compete, smaller clubs will combine. Clubs with 30 or 40 miles between them are not that distant.”


Mitchell, who picked up the pieces at Dean Court after Cherries had come through administration, added: “I sympathise with the people of Portsmouth. Our club had to go through it due to similar circumstances and it is only right that other clubs should face punishment.


“I feel for their supporters but, hopefully, in the long run, it will help united the club. We were subjected to various sanctions and I think that galvanised us.


“Portsmouth have got a fantastic platform to work from with their supporter base and they get 10,000 to 15,000 more people to games than we do. If there was any help we could offer them, we would. It is all down to hard work, sensible planning and having someone to drive it forward.


“It is a fine balancing act – supporters want success and chairmen may overspend to get it. It is a difficult situation. It is every club’s dream to reach the Premier League and the rewards are so unrealistic compared with the normal day-to-day running of a club.


“The most important thing to me since I have been here has been to work hard to try to improve everything and get more people to come. We have got a big enough catchment area and should be getting 10,000-plus not 5,000-plus.


“We would look pretty foolish building the fourth stand for it to be left empty and that is one of the reasons I haven’t pushed it too hard. If we hadn’t been able to facilitate everybody, that stand would have been up by now. If we were to go up, we would be able to fill the stadium regularly.”


Mitchell predicted Pompey would give Cherries their “hardest game of the season” at Fratton Park next month. He also revealed the restaurant at Dean Court had already almost sold out for the return fixture in February.