CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell admits Cherries are facing a financial hit because of the make-up of next season’s third tier – but he remains a fan of the national league structure.

The Dean Court chairman says he believes reverting to a regional set-up of the lower divisions would be a backward step.

His comments came despite relegation and promotion events last term working against the south coast club.

Cherries, who cut out 1,640 miles and 27 hours of travelling by escaping League Two, have seen almost all of that piled back on ahead of the 2011-12 campaign.

They will be required to travel approximately 1,466 miles more during the 2011-12 campaign – around 23 hours on the road – after seeing a number of local opponents exit the division, to be replaced by numerous northern-based clubs.

Derbies against Southampton and Brighton have been wiped out, as have relatively short trips to Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town. Instead, Lee Bradbury’s men and their supporters will make treks to far-flung destinations such as Preston, a near 10-hour round trip, Bury and Scunthorpe, with all three in excess of 500-mile return journeys.

As well as the extra cost of travelling and overnight stays, the changes are also expected to hurt attendances, with the bumper Dean Court crowds seen against Saints and Brighton unlikely to be matched.

Mitchell told the Echo: “We are disappointed because we relished playing Southampton and Brighton and that is not to be next season.

“It is a very northern league with a lot of travelling. It is a big upheaval to get to some of these places. We have just got to grin and bear it for at least another season.

“Southampton and Brighton were full houses and I don’t think we are going to get that against the likes of Sheffield United or Preston.

“It is going to affect us and it is going to be harder with the shortfall, so we have got to work hard to make up for it.

“It will affect us all round and it is not something we really wanted, but it is just the way the league has gone.”

However, when asked about the possibility of regionalising the lower divisions, Mitchell added: “With transport becoming more comfortable and roadways becoming more accessible, I think it would be a step backward to regionalise.

“Although it is hard work for some of the younger supporters, working supporters and older supporters to travel, I think it would be a step backward.

“In time, things will get easier and easier with the travel situation. We want to be in among the best teams in the country and it just so happens some of them are up north.

“It has got to stay as it is – we have just got to pull up our socks and get up to the next division, which I think would give us a few more local games.”