DORCHESTER Town chairman Eddie Mitchell has called on the county town public and the business community to join forces and raise £20,000 to help the Magpies keep their star players.

Mitchell saw his side record their third consecutive Blue Square South victory in the space of eight days with a thrilling 4-3 triumph over in-form Thurrock last Saturday.

But a lowly attendance of 357 has increased fears the club may be forced to let go of its top assets in order to help balance the books.

Speaking after the game, the Poole-based property developer said: “It was a fantastic afternoon’s entertainment at the Jewson Stadium and I think we were very worthy winners playing some superb football.

“The team is really starting to gel and Shaun Brooks has got them playing a very attractive brand of football that is pleasing to watch and is also now getting its rewards.

“My only regret is that not enough people are coming down to the stadium to see this team play which is very worrying as in the current climate I cannot afford to sustain my level of financial commitment and I will have to make cut backs to secure the club’s future if things don’t improve very quickly. I am currently putting in between £6,000 and £7,000 every week at the moment and have so far spent £140,000 since July supporting the Magpies and it would break my heart to have to take apart Shaun’s squad.”

One fan who is not yet ready to see his beloved Magpies’ squad dismantled is 19-year-old student Dev Ward who lives in Worcester and has been a fan and regular spectator both home and away for almost 15 years.

He said: “Living so far away from the club makes it very difficult for me to get to every game which is why I decided to take on Eddie’s challenge and try to do whatever I could to help out.

“Twenty thousand pounds is a lot of money to raise, especially with the country in recession and it being so close to Christmas, but I believe it can be done and nothing is impossible.

“Put simply, if every Dorchester resident donated £1 to the club, whether they were a fan of the Magpies or not, we would achieve our target very quickly and easily.”

Along with another exiled Magpie fan – London-based James Tizzard – Ward runs the club’s official website, and the pair have set up a donations page at dorchestertownfc.co.uk where anyone can easily make a payment via Paypal to the collection fund.

Ward added: “The money raised will go straight to the club and be used to help meet the shortfall in the players’ wage budget which is currently funded solely by Eddie Mitchell.

“I am also going to be writing to many local companies asking them to support their local club, either by making a donation of cash or goods which could be auctioned off to raise further funds.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation directly to the club can do so by putting cash or a cheque made payable to DTFC Ltd, into an envelope marked ‘Magpies Budget Fund’, and dropping it into the club office during the hours of 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

The club is planning to thank everyone who donates with a framed Roll of Honour plaque in the 18-80 lounge bar naming all of the supporters who helped with the initiative.