Bournemouth

Bournemouth
O'Driscoll hopes to bolster squad Cherries pair set for Burnley Bournemouth boss Sean O'Driscoll is disappointed to have lost Wade Elliott and Garreth O'Connor to Burnley - but is determined to bolster his ranks. He told the club's website: "It makes it clearer where we have to strengthen and improve our present squad. "We started the current campaign with a very small squad, but they have been flexible and adaptable. "It's that sort of player we need to bring in as we battle with our financial constraints."

Bournemouth confirm Howard talks
Boss Sean O'Driscoll has confirmed that Bournemouth have held talks with Swindon midfielder Brian Howard. Howard, 22, is out of contract after making 70 League appearances in two seasons with the Robins, and has not been offered a new deal. The former Southampton trainee, born in Winchester, is also reportedly a target for another League One side. The Cherries are keen to strengthen their midfield after Wade Elliott and Garreth O'Connor moved to Burnley. They still have a further 10 players out of contract.

Cooke in talks over Cherries move
Bournemouth have held talks with Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Cooke, 22, about a possible move to Dean Court. Cooke, who is out of contract at Villa Park this summer, has had two previous loan spells with the Cherries. Boss Sean O'Driscoll told the club website: "Stephen's been here before - he's done very well and is the type of player we'd be interested in having. "A number of other clubs have also expressed an interest, so hopefully we can put something together." Cooke first moved to the south coast for a seven-game spell in March 2002, and returned for another month in January 2004 - while he also served Wycombe on loan earlier this season. O'Driscoll added: "He's a skilful player, well-liked by the fans, and he'd be a successful addition to our squad. "He's kept in touch with a couple of the players, knows the area and knows the way we like to play the game."

Phillips hails council decision
Bournemouth chairman Peter Phillips has welcomed the decision of Bournemouth Council's cabinet to defer repayment of a £250,000 loan for six months. The council gave the Cherries the loan - plus a grant of a further £250,000 - in 2001 to help with their new stadium. Opportunities for increasing the club's community activities as a way of paying off the loan will now be discussed. "It is heartening that the council recognises the importance of the club to the local community," Phillips said. "We share the council's vision for the development of King's Park, and will be working with them to ensure that the opportunities presented by major investment into park facilities are maximised," he told the club website.

Howard keen on Bournemouth switch
Swindon Town midfielder Brian Howard has admitted that he would prefer to join Bournemouth although Barnsley have shown an interest in signing him. Howard, 22, will be out of contract with the Robins at the end of the June. He told the Swindon Evening Advertiser: "There has been some interest from Barnsley and other clubs. "I quite fancy Bournemouth if I can get down there because they are a good footballing side and living down south would be perfect for me."

Young signs new Cherries contract
Experienced Bournemouth defender Neil Young has signed a new 12-month contract with the Cherries. The full-back, 31, took his total of appearances for the club to 400 in the 4-2 defeat at Bradford in April. Young joined the Cherries from Tottenham in 1994, and the team will take on Charlton on Saturday, 16 July in his testimonial game at Dean Court. He is one of only two Cherries players to have appeared for the club at Wembley and the Millennium Stadium.

Bournemouth trio agree new deals
Bournemouth trio Steve Fletcher, Karl Broadhurst and Marcus Browning have all agreed new deals with the club. Striker Fletcher, 32, defender Broadhurst, 25, and midfielder Browning, 34, are expected to sign on the dotted line at the end of May. Manager Sean O'Driscoll said: "We're pleased they all agreed terms." O'Driscoll has secured the services of half his 10 out-of-contract players and hopes the remainder will decide "one way or another in the next few days".

Cooke set for move to Bournemouth
Bournemouth are set to sign midfielder Stephen Cooke when his deal with Aston Villa expires on 1 July. Cooke, 22, has had two previous loan spells with the Cherries. Bournemouth boss Sean O'Driscoll said: "Stephen's been here before - he's done very well and is the type of player we'd be interested in having." Cooke first moved to the south coast for a seven-game spell in March 2002 and returned for another month in January 2004.

Malaysian to return to Cherries
Malaysia international Lim Chan Yew is set to return to Bournemouth for a month during pre-season training. The 26-year-old, who can play in defence or midfield, spent three weeks training at Dean Court in March along with two of his compatriots. The trio were not able to feature in competitive games on their last visit because of work permit complications. But boss Sean O'Driscoll may now have the chance to run the rule over Lim in the Cherries' friendly games. Lim, who currently plays for Public Bank Selangor, came through the full 90 minutes for Malaysia in Saturday's 2-0 defeat by rivals Singapore

Rodrigues signs Cherries contract
Bournemouth striker Dani Rodrigues has agreed a new one-year contract. The 25-year-old turned down the chance of Uefa Cup football with Vitoria Guimaraes in his native Portugal to stay for another season at Dean Court. He first joined the Cherries on loan from Farense in 1998, but returned on a free transfer from Yeovil last summer and made 26 appearances last season. Alan Connell and Stephen Purches are now Bournemouth's only out-of-contract players yet to decide on their futures. Steve Fletcher, Neil Young, Marcus Browning, Karl Broadhurst and Gareth Stewart have all put pen to paper on new contracts. Meanwhile defender Shaun Maher has, like Rodrigues, verbally agreed a new deal, while injury-hit Jason Tindall is set to agree a short-term deal to prove his fitness.

Injury forces Redknapp to quit
Southampton's former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp has announced his retirement from football at the age of 31, because of a long-term knee injury. Redknapp, who won 17 caps and also played for Liverpool and Tottenham, had visited a specialist in America who is thought to have advised retirement. "He's been forced to stop or he could have ended up a cripple," his father Harry told the News of the World. "It's been a hard decision but he has had to put his long-term health first." Redknapp made 17 appearances for Saints after arriving from Tottenham last January on a free transfer to play for his father. He only joined on a deal until the end of the season but had hoped to help the side return to the Premiership following their relegation. Redknapp's career began as a trainee at Bournemouth - where Harry was manager - before he joined Liverpool as a 17 year-old in January 1991. In his 11 years at Anfield he made 310 appearances, including 38 as a substitute, before joining Tottenham on a free transfer in July 2002. Just as they had towards the end of his time at Liverpool, injuries hampered Redknapp's appearances at White Hart Lane. In two-and-a-half years at Tottenham he made only 53 appearances in all competitions, including 11 as a substitute. Redknapp scored one goal in his 17 appearances for England.

Cherries considering hotel option
Bournemouth chairman Peter Phillips has said that building a hotel at the empty end of Dean Court is an option. There are plans to erect a temporary stand at that end, but Phillips admits other options are being considered. He told BBC Radio Solent: "There are areas around the ground that are ripe for development. "One idea is to put a hotel at the fourth end, and that has a lot of support but we could't do it ourselves. We need a commercial partner to do it." Dean Court has been three-sided since the ground was redeveloped as an all-seater stadium in 2001 - with the pitch turned through 90 degrees. The current capacity is over 9,000 - but financial problems have so far prevented the Cherries from putting a stand on the fourth side.

Keeper Scriven joins Farnborough
Farnborough have made their first summer signing ahead of the new Conference South campaign - former Bournemouth goalkeeper Kevin Scriven. Scriven, 20, who was released last month without making a competitive appearance for the Cherries, has signed a one-year contract at Cherrywood Road. "I'm looking forward to the challenge," he told Bournemouth's website. "Craig Holloway is number one and he's a very good keeper, but I'm looking to push for a first-team place."

Cherries miss out on Keith deal
Former Colchester midfielder Joe Keith has rejected a move to Bournemouth - after receiving a more lucrative offer from an unnamed League Two club. The 26-year-old was offered a contract by Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll after being released by the U's. But O'Driscoll told his club's website: "There was room for negotiation on the deal we tabled, but we couldn't match the money he's been offered elsewhere." Keith scored 28 goals in 247 league and cup appearances for Colchester. He also spent the end of last season on loan at Bristol City. O'Driscoll has been looking for left-sided cover for his squad as midfielder Garreth O'Connor joined Burnley last month, while left-back Warren Cummings will miss the start of the season after breaking his leg in March.

Torquay hold talks with Connell
Torquay boss Leroy Rosenior has held talks with out-of-contract Bournemouth striker Alan Connell. Connell has been offered a 12-month contract by the Cherries, but has yet to put pen to paper. The 22-year-old may be tempted by the prospect of regular first-team football at Plainmoor. The Torquay boss confirmed he had spoken to Connell but told Gulls website: "He's just one of a number of players on my list."

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