CHERRIES chairman Eddie Mitchell has confirmed he is hoping to buy a development site behind Dean Court to generate extra funds for the cash-strapped club.

The land behind the East Stand is currently owned by local construction company Parkcrest and has planning permission for 13 houses.

But Parkcrest is currently in negotiations with Mr Mitchell’s property development company Seven Developments with a view to selling the land.

In a statement, Parkcrest said: “As there is an obvious connection which could benefit the club, we have made it clear that in such circumstances we may be willing to sell at a price that only covers our principal outgoings on the purchase to date.”

Mr Mitchell said he wanted to get the land at the lowest price possible to increase the profit that could be ploughed back into the football club. But he claimed he was currently being asked to pay “market value”.

“I believe the land was originally sold to Mr Kingham (Parkcrest managing director) to develop and benefit the football club,” he said.

“That’s not happened as we can see and I would like to negotiate to take that back, not into Seven but into the football club so it can be redeveloped for the benefit of the club.

“The football stadium needs a good half a million pounds spending on it before it gets to a situation where it needs major work.

“It wasn’t finished properly and there’s many things wrong with the club.”