CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell insists AFC Bournemouth is in the right hands and maintains his decision not to sell the club in 2010 has been vindicated.

Mitchell was speaking in a week when British football was rocked by the news two prominent clubs – Portsmouth and Rangers – had filed for administration.

Pompey’s latest crisis came just months after the south coast club had been acquired by Convers Sports Initiatives, a company which tried to buy Cherries in July 2010.

Russian bidders Vladimir Antonov and Roman Dubov offered Mitchell an initial payment of around £1.2m with the promise of further investment to include buying back Dean Court.

However, at the time, Mitchell was adamant the proposals would not be in the club’s best interests and rejected their overtures, much to the annoyance of some supporters.

Mitchell, who gained a controlling interest in Cherries in June 2009, subsequently joined forces with Russian businessman Maxim Demin in November.

Asked whether he felt Cherries may have had an escape, Mitchell told the Daily Echo: “I would like to think I am a better judge of character.

“I wasn’t looking for a buyer and we weren’t looking to sell, that is why we rejected the offer. We didn’t want to entertain it and, as it has turned out, I suppose you could say it was good fortune.

“It happened way before we had achieved anything and I have got ambition of my own. I think it was a wise move on our behalf not to get involved.

“If you have got something as precious as a football club then you need to be careful who you put in control or have alongside you, which is what I have done.

“I have been very careful. You are playing with people’s heartstrings and you want to try to get it right for them. I recognised Max’s passion for football and his passion for this club and that is why we formed a partnership.”

Since taking the reins, Mitchell has steered Cherries from the brink of oblivion to a position where the club is facing a much brighter future.

Asked whether he could reassure supporters the threat of administration would not again blight Cherries like it did in 2008, Mitchell replied: “Of course I can.

“Every club has to run as a business and that is why people come through the turnstiles. If you want better football, you have to commit to players that cost money and you have to look for that investment. With the number of people coming through our turnstiles, we couldn’t play at this level without borrowing.

“But if you borrow sensibly and spend wisely, there is no reason why you can’t run the business indefinitely. It is part of life to give a return on the money but we have just got to be sensible about it.”