CHERRIES and Dorset Police are urging the Football League to schedule a midweek fixture with Leeds United next season to avoid any repeat of 1990's devastating riots.

Leeds' relegation to League One was confirmed after they were put in administration on Friday, meaning they will visit Dean Court during the 2007-08 campaign.

It is almost 17 years ago to the day that Leeds fans went on the rampage in Bournemouth in the worst riots ever witnessed in the town.

Now, police admit they will be wary when the Yorkshire club returns for the first time since that infamous day next season.

"Every team in the division is going to be looking at the Leeds fixture and anticipating problems with fans," said Supt Stuart Katon, operations manager for the Bournemouth division of Dorset Police.

"Then we have the aggravating factor of what happened here 17 years ago.

"It is common sense to ask for a midweek game and we are just taking reasonable steps to prevent any problems."

Cherries have already formally written to the Football League regarding the fixture.

The club's chief executive Laurence Jones described the league's reaction as "receptive" and "sympathetic".

"The club has taken a pro-active approach and said our preference would be to play the game midweek," he said.

"We take our responsibility to the town for this fixture very seriously and want to ensure no repeat of the unacceptable scenes last time Leeds played here."

The ill-fated 1990 fixture took place over a Bank Holiday weekend, which led to thousands of Leeds fans descending on the town.

Pleas to the Football League to switch the date of the game had been ignored.

Leeds fans proceeded to terrorise the town over the weekend in what was dubbed the "Battle of Bournemouth".

Internet chatter has already begun with regard to the impending return of the Elland Road club to Bournemouth on both Leeds and Cherries websites.

"There are people with long memories and we have already started monitoring the internet as part of our intelligence," said Supt Katon.

"There was carnage in the town in 1990 and we should be mindful of that even though time has passed."

The Yorkshiremen remain one of the best-supported sides in the country and could bring upwards of 6,000 fans to Bournemouth next season depending on the fixture date.

The 2007-08 Football League fix