Hargreaves joins Cherries set-up

AFC Bournemouth have announced Chris Hargreaves as the Cherries new development coach.

Hargreaves was a popular midfielder during his playing days and made almost 700 appearances in the lower leagues, most notably at Northampton, Torquay and Oxford.

During his days at Torquay he captained the side to Conference play-off glory and the following year he was part of Oxford's promotion winning campaign back into the football league.

Since retiring from professional football the 40 year old joined the youth set-up at Exeter City and will now head up the Cherries new development squad.

The development squad will play around 35 games over the course of the season, with fixtures against a number of non-league sides and other development squads.

Young professionals Josh Wakefield, Ryan Case, Alex Moth and Harrison Gilkes who all signed their first professional contracts at the end of last season will be involved in the squad, as well as former youth team members Dan Strugnell and Jayden Stockley who have been sponsored by AFCB Vital.

Hargreaves told the Daily Echo...

"...Players of a certain age can get lost in the system. They are signed as professionals and are not quite at the level to get in the first team.

"This system gives them more nurturing time and more time to develop and a realisation that it is there for them if they want it.

"No stone will be left unturned with these young men. They will have to do it right on and off the pitch and they have to believe they can play in this first team...'

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