DEFIANT Dorchester Town Football Club chairman Eddie Mitchell has refused to be ‘frightened away’ after receiving a second death threat.

The property developer received a letter in the post saying ‘he would not live to see the new season’ if he did not walk away from the club.

Mr Mitchell received a similar letter in February and has reported both to the police.

He said the second letter, which is signed but the name is difficult to make out, was of a ‘more threatening’ nature than the previous one.

The envelope had a South Wales post mark on it and under the name it says ‘Caerphilly, S. Wales’.

Mr Mitchell said: “I think it is a bit more threatening this time.

“I don’t really know what to make of it all, to be honest. I can’t make out the name and I don’t know who it could be.

“It annoys me because I put a lot into the club in terms of energy and thought and it makes me wonder whether I’m really wanted down here.

“Football is about achieving and enjoying any achievement, but I’m starting to get the impression that people would rather write death threats and whinge than enjoy themselves.

“We’ve not delivered the results as much as we would have liked but things need to be built over time and I’ve always been in it for the long term.”

The handwritten note warned Mr Mitchell that he had failed to listen to ‘good advice’ in the previous letter. It said that it was not a threat but a ‘guarantee’.

The Magpies’ chairman said the letter itself would not force him to walk away from the club.

He said: “The threat doesn’t worry me at all. It’s more about the mentality.

“It’s reading between the lines of the general public and whether I’ve poked my nose into something where it’s not wanted. Maybe I should get out, I just don’t know.”

He added: “What I would like to see is the people who want the club to go forward to get behind the bloke who wants to take it forward.

“I’ve got to write a cheque today to pay for the players’ wages and it makes me wonder why I bother.

“But it won’t frighten me away from anything because I don’t know how the club would survive if I pulled out.

“I’ve always enjoyed coming down to the club but I won’t keep doing it if people don’t want me here.

“I can’t see anyone wanting to put several thousands of pounds into the club every week.”

The latest letter was addressed to Mr Mitchell at the football club in Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester, after the first was sent to his Seven Developments office in Poole.

Mr Mitchell spoke to detectives from Dorset Police yesterday afternoon about the letter.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “A second letter has been seized by one of our officers and it is being examined by detectives, who are continuing their inquiries.

“Someone, somewhere – perhaps several people – knows or suspects that they know who has been responsible for these letters.

“We appeal to that person or people to search their conscience, do the right thing and come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police on 01305 222222.