Brooks: It gives you more options

AFC Bournemouth assistant manager Shaun Brooks is pleased that match day squads will be increased from 16 to 18 again next season.

For the 2011/12 season Football League clubs voted to lower the matchday squad to 16, but for next season the matchday substitutes will be increased back from five to seven.

Cherries assistant manager Brooks, believes that not only will the change give teams more options on a match day, but the news will also be a bonus to younger players as it increases their chance of being involved.

In previous seasons AFCB Vital sponsored Jayden Stockley had benefited from gaining first team experience before turning professional and towards the end of last season youth team players Alex Moth and Josh Wakefield were also included in the squad.

Brooks told afcb.co.uk...

'Firstly it gives you more options to change a game and I think just as importantly it enables us to bring one or two of the younger players along to get experience of being involved with the first team,'

'I think it was invaluable for Alex and Josh. Alex travelled, was on the bench but didn't get on. Josh came on and made two appearances and he acquitted himself really well. As long as the players are at the level, which those two are, then I think they can benefit from playing at the intensity that the first team play at...'

'...Players like to play but it helps us to keep people involved too. Where we were going with 16 players in our squad last season, we will be going with 18 next season and there will be a greater opportunity for people to play...'

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