DORCHESTER Town chairman Eddie Mitchell says the club is working hard to raise the funds needed to repay ex-director Ian Pollock but insists he will not pay him back through his own pocket.

Last month, Northampton County Court ordered the Magpies to repay a £1,000 loan that Pollock gave to the club in April 2006.

But Mitchell said that the club, currently running at a loss, is no position to reimburse Pollock at the present time.

He commented: "The ball is in his court, he's won his case but if the club hasn't got the money to pay him back then it can't. I'm not obliged to pay him back because it's not a debt I took out, he loaned the money to Dorchester Town Football Club, which is at its overdraft limit and has been since I joined.

"I, and a lot of loyal people at the club, are working hard so that the club can make money in order to repay him, but the club is running at a loss. When it's in credit then I'll pay back the loan.

"I put several thousand pounds a week into the club and I'm not just going to give other people money out of my own pocket. If the club had money then I wouldn't have to keep putting money in.

"The reason the club has survived is that the £78,000 I paid for my shares went out to the creditors."

The Magpies earned £4,500 after winning Wednesday night's FA Cup second qualifying round replay at Newport County.

But property developer Mitchell insists there are other priorities for which the funds need to be spent.

He added: "I'm sure the fans would rather see the players being paid than not and then wanting to leave the club as a result. I'd love Ian to get his money back but I have to put the club first."

The options facing Pollock in his quest are to recover the necessary amount via bailiffs, wait until the club is in credit or to issue a winding-up petition, which could result in the club going into administration.

Mitchell said: "I won't be calling the administrators in, if someone else chooses to then that's their decision, I won't bail individuals out via my own pocket."

Mitchell was in the stands at the Newport Stadium as Dorchester recorded their first win in 12 games on Wednesday.

Of the victory, he said: "I was on the pitch afterwards, I couldn't help it. The lads played really well, with so much energy, and they were a credit to the club.

"It just proves that we've got the team, it has just taken time to get the best out of them as a lot of the lads are new to each other.

"Newport weren't an easy side to beat, but we know we have got a team that can perform."