CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell is hoping Cherries can clear their debts in the next three months.

Mitchell faced a mountain of debt after taking the Dean Court reins just over 12 months ago.

He revealed in March that the club's outstanding liabilities stood at more than £1.7m when he took control.

In March, the chairman reported that the total club liability had been cut to a fraction over £846,000. And speaking at last night's BBC Radio Solent fans' forum, Mitchell said the debt had been further reduced to £300,000, a figure he is hoping will be cleared by October.

He said: "We are getting very near to the end of the debt. We've gone from a considerable amount down to £300,000.

"I think by October we'd like to think that we would be debt free."

Meanwhile, boss Eddie Howe delighted the audience at the Dean Court forum by reiterating his commitment to the club.

When asked how he felt about being linked with other jobs, he said: "I honestly don't feel anything. I've got no desire to look anywhere else.

"I'm 100 per cent happy here. I love everything about the club - I love the supporters, I love the players and I'm solely focused on this season, and don't have time to think of anything else."