So, the dream of a new stadium for the Cherries is put on hold for the immediate future. It must be a huge disappointment for the thousands of local supporters who yearn for the opportunity of witnessing world class football week in and week out at our spiritual home in Kings Park.

All fans must know that when the time is right Bournemouth Council will be fully behind AFC and their ambition of providing a first-class stadium for a world class manager and our team.

However, despite the disappointment, I am sure I speak for many when I say I am absolutely delighted to hear that providing the resources (cash) for Eddie Howe to continue to invest in and develop our squad is a priority. For Bournemouth, currently, to occupy a top six berth up amongst some of the richest and most powerful clubs on this planet shows just what a magnificent and incredible job the management and staff at Dean Court are doing.

We may have the smallest and most compact ground in the premiership but what we lack for in size we surely make up for in atmosphere and having been to many stadiums around the country in recent seasons we surely do pack a punch when it comes to vocal support.

Having supported the Cherries since the sixties I have seen one promising team after another broken up because of the financial need to sell players just to survive. At long last we have learnt our lesson and it is critical that we don’t return to those days of having to sell to survive.

It is just quite possible that by over stretching ourselves with the financial burden of a new stadium we might just do that.

Councillor David Smith

Central Ward

Planning and Environment portfolio holder.