WHILE the town’s main sports club continues to struggle, a lower-profile outfit is providing a fine model for achieving long-term prosperity.

AFC Bournemouth have been on a downward curve for the past few years and their Football League status is in severe danger with a second successive relegation looming more ominously with every passing week.

A new ownership is keen to steer the Dean Court ship back into steady waters and they need not look too far away to see the benefits stability, both on and off the field of play, can bring.

When the hierarchy of the Bournemouth Lions sat down to construct a plan for the rugby club, which was then languishing at Southern Counties South level, they no doubt hoped their ideas would come to fruition.

But it’s quite possible even they couldn’t have imagined that the primary aim of National League rugby would be within touching distance in such a short space of time.

That is what has happened, though, with head coach David Dunn leading a playing revolution which is being backed up by solid business thinking off the park.

“We decided we wanted to be progressive as a club and drew up a five-year plan that we were going to do as best we could,” explained Dunn, the former England Schools coach who is deputy head at Ballard School in New Milton.

“The intention was to be a National League club.”

And that goal could soon become reality at the end of this season.

Just as they finished last season impressively with wins at the Bournemouth and European sevens tournaments, Dunn’s men have enjoyed some fine results in South West One this time round.

Only Clifton, who would have been the visitors to Chapel Gate last weekend but for a frozen pitch, sit above Lions in the table, meaning a play-off rather than automatic elevation is likely to provide the route to the promised land.

“We started with promotion from Southern Counties South – we won that comfortably – then we had a season in South West Two when we came third,” said Dunn.

“In the following season, we came second in South West Two and won the play-off game to be promoted into South West One at the end of year three.

“Part of the development plan also said we should be attracting a player-coach – either a professional or ex-professional.”

And while Lions’ upward turn started with a plan, the arrival of Robert Todd and Junior Paramore provided a push in the right direction.

Dunn said: “Sadly Robert Todd had to end his playing career due to illness and moved to the area to study.

“We managed to get him and he made a massive difference and gave us a professional edge.

“He was very friendly with Junior Paramore and Junior came down to do a guest session for us one evening.

“He was coaching Luton at the time, but he decided he really liked it and decided to move down as well – so we had two ex-professionals.

“In the past two years, their expertise and intensity has helped us shoot through South West One, more than consolidate and move near to promotion.”

It’s hardly a surprise that the pair have had such a big effect on Lions, with both boasting impressive CVs.

Paramore, the former Samoan World Cup star, played for his country 26 times, while Auckland-born Todd was a highly-rated centre.

The words ‘dream come true’ are over-used in the sporting world, but one gets the impression that Dunn is speaking from the heart when he puts that description to the recent success achieved by the club he has been associated with for about a decade, over two separate stints.

“The efforts on the pitch have been matched off the field, steered by Denis Eveleigh, the chairman of the playing committee,” said Dunn, keen to give credit to the people behind the scenes at the Dorset club.

“He has led improving the business aspect of the club, helped by Dave Richardson, the current chairman.

“He has got a group together which is helping us move forward off the field. That has been a key area and we’ve been able to give it a more professional outlook.

“We’re no longer a local rugby club – we’re progressive.

“Three years ago, Bournemouth, Swanage, Salisbury and Dorchester were competing to be the best club in the area.

“But now Bournemouth is well and truly established as the leading club in the area and we hope to build on that.”

And that is a role the Lions are taking very seriously, almost throwing as much energy into community work and youth development as they are into a determined promotion push.

Dunn said: “We grow our own players. Largely they are local lads and have grown with our increased level of coaching.

“We believe in cultivating the next group of first-team players.

“With that in mind, we’re just about to launch a rugby academy for players aged 16 to 21.

“We’re going to invite players from clubs to meet once a week and be coached by top coaches. They will have in-depth nutrition, lifestyle and preparation coaching etc, but go back to their own clubs.

“We’re aiming to put something back into the area.”

So while Lions are clearly profiting as they implement what is fast becoming a masterplan, the wider rugby fraternity is also set to benefit from their ongoing success.