CHERRIES have completed a U-turn on the scheduling of two of next season's home fixtures after disgruntled fans bombarded an unofficial club website with complaints, writes Karenza Morton.

Cherries announced last week that their Division Three clashes with Macclesfield and Boston United on January 18 and February 1 would be switched to Friday nights.

The decision was taken because Cherries officials were concerned that their attendances would be affected by Liverpool and Manchester United visiting Southampton in the Premiership on the same days.

But after fans revealed their displeasure on the rednblack.net messageboard, Cherries chairman Tony Swaisland asked for the fixtures to be moved back to the original dates.

Swaisland said: "When the fixture list was first issued, representations were made to the club concerning home fixtures clashing with those of Southampton.

"As a result, two of these fixtures were changed to Friday nights.

"Subsequently it emerged that the majority of fans were against the change with a significant number of season ticket holders being unable to make games which they have already paid for.

"We had no choice therefore but to listen to the fans' concerns and take appropriate action.

"As a result of this, we contacted the Football League and clubs involved and are now pleased to confirm that approval to switch the fixtures back to Saturday has been obtained by all parties."

Dave Stone, spokesman for the AFC Bournemouth Independent Supporters' Association, admitted he was delighted after the club's climbdown.

Stone said: "At a time when football clubs across the land are having to maximise every bit of revenue just to stay in business, it was a very odd decision by AFC Bournemouth to change two January home fixtures from Saturday afternoons to the traditionally less well attended Friday nights, just to keep a few Southampton fans happy.

"It was even more surprising as it followed shortly after the rearranging of the two Bank Holiday Monday fixtures next season to the following Tuesday nights despite many years of campaigning for the return of Bank Holiday fixtures.

"We are therefore delighted that the club has listened to fans and now changed the Friday night fixtures back to their rightful place on Saturday afternoons.

"And we hope that they will also listen to fans' pleas to reintroduce Bank Holiday matches, when crowds have historically been considerably higher than Tuesday evenings, now we have established that Dorset Police have no objections."