Former Blues sponsor joins takeover at League Two rivals

Jul 18 2008 By David Triggs

PAUL Baker insists he will remain "a passionate Blue" despite being involved in a shock takeover of League Two rivals Bournemouth.

The Hawarden-based businessman – an ex-director and former sponsor of his beloved Chester City – was unveiled as a director of the Cherries at a press conference yesterday.

He has joined forces with sports marketing group Sports-6, who have assumed control of the troubled south coast club after being thwarted in a bid to buy Chester last year.

Baker, who is in the process of acquiring a 50% stake in Liverpool-based Sports-6, is a popular figure among Blues fans and remains a life member of the Chester City Supporters’ Trust.

He insists his involvement in Bournemouth has done nothing to diminish his love of Chester.

The 48-year-old father-of-three said: "I’m passionate in everything I do so I can’t see that I won’t have the passion for Bournemouth to be successful. Equally, I’ll still have the passion to support the Blues. I’m a passionate Blue."

Baker, who plans to continue living locally, added: "I’m not going to say I’ll never own Chester again, it’s just that Sports-6 is part of my business portfolio now. I’m going to be at as many Chester games as it is humanly possible for me to attend next season.

"I’m passionate that they do well next season, and I’m still going to be there supporting them."

Baker is the man behind Sandycroft-based express delivery firm UK Sameday, which ended a three-year spell as Chester’s main shirt sponsor at the end of last season.

He spent 16 months on the club’s board, resigning in April of last year after having what he described at the time as a "difference of opinion" with then manager Mark Wright.

Baker is understood to have been close to acquiring a stake of 50% or more in Chester on at least two occasions.

He first came into contact with Sports-6 – and its ambitious frontman Alastair Saverimutto – when the firm was weighing up a buyout of Blues owner Stephen Vaughan last year.

Now Baker and Sports-6 have teamed up to lead Bournemouth out of administration

Baker, who was due to appear at a fans’ forum at Dean Court last night, is excited by the challenge.

He said: "This is a business transaction, but it’s a business transaction with a bit of heart. What we were going to do for Chester, we’re now implementing at Bournemouth.

"It’s a great little club. It’s got the potential, it’s got the fan base. It just needs to be run a little bit more efficiently and with more financial prudence."

As for who Baker intends to support when Chester meet Bournemouth in League Two combat at Dean Court on December 6, he said: "I’ll sit on the fence and want a draw."