³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

The new owner of sixth-tier rugby side Bournemouth says he believes "there is no reason" why they cannot be a Premiership side in less than 10 years.

Bournemouth Rugby Club were recently acquired by businessmen Richard Carr, Drew Mellor and Matthew Barker.

The trio have made no secret of their ambitious plans to take the club to the elite level.

"I think it would be amazing if we had a football and rugby club down here in the top tier," Carr told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ South Today.

"I believe there’s no reason why that in seven-to-10 years from now, we couldn’t be playing against Exeter or Bath in the Premiership, that is my goal.

"The plan, put simply, is to propel the club forward. It’s not going to happen overnight but there’s been a change already here, there’s a different feeling around the club now, we have a direction."

The first team, known as the Bournemouth Lions, play in the Regional Two South Central League and were previously heading for financial difficulties before the recent takeover, according to Carr.

The new part-owner used to play for the club when he was younger and had previously invested his own money into the club.

"I had put money into the club on many occasions over the years," Carr added.

"When it became clear they were running into financial difficulty, I decided I wouldn’t put any more money in unless I had control over how money was spent.

"Myself and the other two owners have now started to turn the ship around and commercialise the club. I think the club has the potential to be quite special."

The Lions have won one and lost two of their opening three league games and as they begin their quest to climb the divisions under their new ownership.