CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell has sounded out a defiant message to any potential suitors of the Cherries squad by telling them: “We are a buying club, not a selling one.”

Mitchell’s comments came after Cherries had rejected an offer for striker Matt Tubbs from cash-rich League Two outfit Rotherham United.

Millers boss Steve Evans, who worked with Tubbs at Crawley, is understood to have tabled a bid in the region of £200,000 for the 27-year-old hitman.

Tubbs, who has just bought a property in Verwood, joined Cherries in a package rising to around £800,000 in January and penned a three-and-a-half year deal.

And although Tubbs has endured an indifferent start to his career at Seward Stadium, Mitchell insists the frontman is very much part of the club’s plans.

Tubbs, who was a prolific marksman under Evans, netted once in seven appearances for Cherries before injury ruled him out of the final few weeks of the campaign.

Mitchell, who confirmed Rotherham’s initial bid had been rejected, added: “We don’t want to sell Matt. Steve Evans knows him well and knows he has got goals in him, otherwise he wouldn’t want him.

“I am not surprised about the interest but we want those goals and I think Matt will turn out to be a really big favourite at the club. He was unfortunate with his injury at the end of the season but, if he and Charlie Sheringham hadn’t got injured, I think we would have had a few more goals in us.

“There is no pressure on us to sell so, if we are trying to establish ourselves in this division or go up, then there is no point in selling unless a player doesn’t suit. At this moment in time, Matt suits our agenda.”

Mitchell joined forces with wealthy Russian businessman Maxim Demin midway through last season, the pair sanctioning a sizeable spending spree during the January transfer window, including the signing of Tubbs.

A significant bolstering of the squad came just months after several key players had left following Cherries’ play-off near miss a year ago.

“We are fortunate to be more financially stable than we were 12 months ago,” said Mitchell.

“We have one ambition and that is to get ourselves into the Championship. Last season, we weren’t as financially sound as we are now. We were building a new team and didn’t really think that was so much of a realistic opportunity.

“But we do now and we feel there is every chance we can push on. We want to build a team to reach the Championship.”