EDDIE Mitchell admits season ticket sales have exceeded his expectations and says the extra revenue will help Cherries compete in the Championship.

Chairman Mitchell had been targeting 4,000 for next season - although the club announced yesterday it had smashed through that barrier after just three weeks.

Supporters new and existing have been snapping up season tickets in anticipation of watching Cherries in the second tier for the first time since 1990.

Mitchell told the Daily Echo: “It is fantastic because it means we will be in a better position to compete with clubs which get bigger gates. We have to increase attendances to bring in the revenue.

“It doesn't mean we are awash with money all of a sudden because we made quite a lot of commitments last season to get us into the Championship and those commitments go on for two or three years.

“But it will enable us to look at various options, both on and off the field. I am delighted to see so many people buying season tickets because it means we are heading in the right direction.”

Mitchell said he was keen for existing season ticket holders to renew before the deadline on May 31 with those seats then going on general sale.

“There have been queues every day at the ticket office,” said Mitchell. “We don't want people to be disappointed to find they can't get the seat they wanted so existing season ticket holders should renew as soon as possible.”

Around 2,500 existing season ticket holders have renewed, while 1,200 have not.