SPECULATION is today mounting over Jeff Mostyn’s future as chairman of AFC Bournemouth.

Sources close to the Daily Echo suggest Mostyn and vice-chairman Steve Sly could be preparing to step down due to ongoing funding issues.

It is believed both Mostyn and Sly have been pondering their respective roles following recent talks with the club’s new owners Paul Baker and Alastair Saverimutto.

And although details are sketchy and unsubstantiated, it is understood Mostyn is reluctant to provide further investment into the club – on their terms.

Baker and Saverimutto have been trying to source additional backers since buying the club from administrator Gerald Krasner in July.

It is suggested they have potential investors waiting in the wings whom would only be prepared to commit if they could join forces with the club’s owners on a new board.

And while Mostyn is believed to have been invited to propose a deal to match any prospective new monies, it seems he may have declined.

Unless Mostyn has a change of heart, it is likely that any possible boardroom reshuffle would see Baker installed as the club’s new chairman.

Baker and his Sport-6 business partner Saverimutto struck a deal to buy Cherries after Mostyn had financed the stricken club through administration.

Under the new board, Mostyn and his partner Sly became chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, both in non-executive capacities.

Mostyn played a key role in securing the return of the club’s Football League share and it is believed the new owners are |committed to repaying him around £700,000, with instalments spread over more than two years.

The Football League also instructed them to cough up around £500,000 to unsecured creditors, the amount offered when a company voluntary arrangement failed earlier this year.

Mostyn and Sly claimed to have gained a controlling interest in the club in March 2007 although their acquisition was cast in doubt 11 months later.

Having received an overwhelming vote of confidence from the club’s shareholders after committing an initial investment of £750,000, it later emerged that the funds had remained on the books as loans.

During a recent question-and-answer session conducted by the BBSU, a Cherries supporters’ group, chief executive Saverimutto was quizzed about Mostyn’s position.

Asked whether Mostyn may leave the board once he had been paid in full, Saverimutto replied: “He could leave the board well before that. He could leave the board tomorrow if we choose to.”

And asked whether Sport-6 “have any plans for your own chairman?”, Saverimutto said: “We do, yes. It may be Jeff, it may not. I’m not saying now that Jeff won’t be chairman for the next league game but I’m not saying he will either.”

Saverimutto’s replies are known to have upset Mostyn.

Baker and Saverimutto were both unavailable for comment, while Mostyn declined to say anything when contacted by the Echo last night.