Cherries: Howe hints at further squad cutbacks

11:16pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Latest Sport Photograph of the Author By Ian Wadley

BOSS Eddie Howe tonight revealed that he could be set to further reduce his squad after Cherries cancelled David James’s contract by mutual consent.

The former England goalkeeper had his deal terminated after spending less than six months at the club and making just 19 appearances.

A regular under ex-manager Paul Groves and during the early stages of Howe’s reign, the veteran stopper had not featured since Shwan Jalal replaced him for Cherries’ victory at Hartlepool on January 22.

His Cherries departure came just days after the Dorset club had last week made a number of employees redundant in a process chairman Eddie Mitchell labelled “restructuring”.

Speaking after the 1-0 win at Stevenage, Howe hinted that he might make more cuts to his playing staff.

Howe said: “David James has been excellent for us. He has been a model professional and I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“Unfortunately, we have had to make some difficult calls, not just on the goalkeeping front in terms of picking who we think is our best goalkeeper but also, financially, we are having to readjust and realign things at the club and this is part of that.

“When we came back, we said we had a big squad and that the wage bill is very high for this football club, so we need to adjust things and realign the playing side like it has been realigned off the pitch.

“The club has to be streamlined and it has to make sure it is manageable. We are in the process of doing that and may have to make some difficult decisions ahead, but it will all be for the benefit of the club.”

Writing on his Twitter account, James said: “I would like to thank everyone at AFC Bournemouth for making my stay so enjoyable, splendid! I wish them all the best for the rest of the season!”

Comments(34)

Frankiesbackfromhollywood says...
11:23pm Tue 12 Mar 13

You have to wonder just how far these "cuts" are going to be made, we go from spending £500k in January to having to let James go in March and also will see others some of which could be "difficult" that sounds like the club is over spending and Mitchell has been living on the lovely money Max loaned the club! Once again we are in a position as fans where we are asking far more questions with regards the clubs finances than we have received answers, all sounds like poor management at the top where the cuts should be made!!

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CSeat80 says...
11:23pm Tue 12 Mar 13

We did better before with a leaner , hungrier squad.

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pehf1rules says...
12:55am Wed 13 Mar 13

And looking at Allsop tonight, he cuts the mustard. Did not put a foot wrong.

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AFCBade says...
1:07am Wed 13 Mar 13

Everyone knows the squad is bloated and when we have injuries still have so few able to step up. thus makes sense. Personally was sceptical about James but he made a big difference to the side. Hope Alsopp continues his development though

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tricky1007 says...
6:32am Wed 13 Mar 13

it is a massive squad we have!!! no need to have so many on the books, especially if there are a few Eddie does not really want to use

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mark.s says...
6:53am Wed 13 Mar 13

Our squad is massive and grossly over subscribed, a cull is more than healthy and required. Howe said as much when he joined. There's so many players on the books we hear nothing about.

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charlie2004 says...
7:36am Wed 13 Mar 13

mark.s wrote:
Our squad is massive and grossly over subscribed, a cull is more than healthy and required. Howe said as much when he joined. There's so many players on the books we hear nothing about.
Exactly Mark. Player wages are huge now and the costs cannot be sustained with 7 - 8000 paying supporters once a fortnight. It's time to cut out the one's who are never likely to be selected for the first team, sell them on and get a bit of money back in the process.Makes sense.

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tricky1007 says...
8:07am Wed 13 Mar 13

charlie2004 wrote:
mark.s wrote:
Our squad is massive and grossly over subscribed, a cull is more than healthy and required. Howe said as much when he joined. There's so many players on the books we hear nothing about.
Exactly Mark. Player wages are huge now and the costs cannot be sustained with 7 - 8000 paying supporters once a fortnight. It's time to cut out the one's who are never likely to be selected for the first team, sell them on and get a bit of money back in the process.Makes sense.
can we please stop these sensible comments, its just not right! More comments needed like 'i spoke to someone at the club, and they cant talk about it, but there is something big to happen' or ' Spoke to the russian investors driver yesterday, and he has bought a new house in Swindon, and will be investing there' Come on people dont use common sense when posting!!!

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Wilkie says...
8:14am Wed 13 Mar 13

I am sure that nearly all will welcome this. We will almost certainly benefit from a tighter squad of Eddie and Jason's players. Just hope that Maxim will ultimately write off the £2-3million excess that the club (litte Tom) have committed to on excessive player contracts.

I see no conflict with the clubs new policy of running a sustainable ship and that of signing Matt Ritchie. We have the money, but it just needs to be spent wisely, as was the case on getting Matt for a steal.

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seuthsayer says...
8:18am Wed 13 Mar 13

....AFCB in it's current state is obviously not sustainable financially the squad has too much waste in it...players like Demouger,Purches,Fle
tcher, and Flahavan need to be culled...off the field Tom Mitchell,And Paul Groves need to go...do we need a Director of Football and TWO youth team managers?...even Max must be looking at the business model and see that money is being wasted by this awful chairman....

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kangman2012 says...
8:28am Wed 13 Mar 13

tricky1007 wrote:
it is a massive squad we have!!! no need to have so many on the books, especially if there are a few Eddie does not really want to use
Agreed "tricky", the squad needs to get leaner and meaner and to leave room for additions once we're in "the promised land". Let's face it, if we do go up half our current squad couldn't cut it in The Championship anyway - UTC!

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Justin Otherfan says...
8:36am Wed 13 Mar 13

seuthsayer wrote:
....AFCB in it's current state is obviously not sustainable financially the squad has too much waste in it...players like Demouger,Purches,Fle

tcher, and Flahavan need to be culled...off the field Tom Mitchell,And Paul Groves need to go...do we need a Director of Football and TWO youth team managers?...even Max must be looking at the business model and see that money is being wasted by this awful chairman....
I wouldn't consider Purches a waste. He is an excellent utility man that can play almost any position on the pitch, including the back four. He is getting back to training after that horrendous injury. If he had been fit now I would have expected him to be doing a sound job at the back with our current injuries. I agree we need to slim the squad but there are others less likely to feature in the team.

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Ashleyafcb says...
9:01am Wed 13 Mar 13

Well for me theres a few to be taken off the wage bill Fletch to retire purches flahavan Demouge thomas Partington with financial fair play being in place next season we cant have such a big squad and people saying take groves and brooks as much as i agree there contracted so will have to pay them weather there working or not !!

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In Absentia says...
9:20am Wed 13 Mar 13

I'd let Steve Evans buy Matt Tubbs as well. I still think the team needs a strong player in central midfield to break up the opposition play, like we used to have when Bartley was at the club.

If we don't go up this year, there'll be a lot more of these types of headline.

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lofty1971 says...
9:44am Wed 13 Mar 13

Tom Mitchell, Groves and Brooks should be paid off and binned.

No use to the club at all.

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mrsrat says...
9:49am Wed 13 Mar 13

Yep, It's time Eddie had a good look at his players and move some of 'em on at end of season. At the moment we seem to be struggling for subs. I always think Sean Macca should be in the side. Eddie must have some reason for him not starting games...p'raps he's not match fit.
Joe Parts should be retained, he's growing into a quick and tall mid-fielder. Eddie wants him as a left back but I suspect it is only as a cover for Charlie D.

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charlie2004 says...
10:01am Wed 13 Mar 13

lofty1971 wrote:
Tom Mitchell, Groves and Brooks should be paid off and binned.

No use to the club at all.
And the other son, don't know his name and while he's at it get rid of the Mitchell's wife, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and anyone else associated with them who know nothing about running a football club but are milking the club dry.

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seuthsayer says...
10:17am Wed 13 Mar 13

...have to say that Rob Mitchell is decent guy and does a good job PR wise with customers....but the others should be got rid of, I just feel that AFCB will NEVER move forward or fans will regain the trust in those running our football club...too much has passed to make this happen...I wouldn't care if we went back to those thrifty days providing everyone was pulling together and working to the same aim..

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devon fan says...
10:25am Wed 13 Mar 13

the new rulew on Fair Play will make a big difference to AFCB, it is obvious we have been spending above our income, it was not surprising on LATE KICK OFF that we were only one out of two clubs who refused to discuss the new rules, we build upa reasonable development squad then we send them all out on loan, we do not really give these youngsters a chance to show what they can do whilst playing for us

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mark.s says...
10:35am Wed 13 Mar 13

Far too many sensible comments on here today. Yes the FFP rules are a good shout and another reason to demonstrate that we are working to reduce our squad size and wage costs.

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ging999 says...
11:04am Wed 13 Mar 13

I find most of the responses above incredible. Almost to a man, you are praising the fact that the club are going to 'get rid', of more players. We need to ask ourselves why are more players going ?.
This club is in trouble and you are all closing your eyes to it and in fact, applauding it.
Watch this space. Who will still be here in two months time ? Mitchell or Demin. Place your bets now please. I fear the worst.

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smhinto says...
11:13am Wed 13 Mar 13

charlie2004 wrote:
lofty1971 wrote: Tom Mitchell, Groves and Brooks should be paid off and binned. No use to the club at all.
And the other son, don't know his name and while he's at it get rid of the Mitchell's wife, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and anyone else associated with them who know nothing about running a football club but are milking the club dry.
I believe that Groves and Brookes make better coaches than they do managers. Kevin Bond was the same. I dare that they can do a good job as youth coaches.
.
Their system of play (diamon formation)with the first team may well have been successful eventaually but they ran out of time and games so had to be removed.
.
Regards

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mark.s says...
11:15am Wed 13 Mar 13

Only because the squad is in need of 'getting rid' of some players, because we have more players than any supporter could reel off.
.
As for the board, clearly there are discussions happening at that level, but we knew that already - what with more Russians coming in as directors recently. Whether there will be boardroom level comings or goings we'll have to see, my guess is there will be, but I don't think it's the sort that will doom us. Mitchell won't be here too much longer, is my feeling.

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molbol says...
12:25pm Wed 13 Mar 13

seuthsayer wrote:
...have to say that Rob Mitchell is decent guy and does a good job PR wise with customers....but the others should be got rid of, I just feel that AFCB will NEVER move forward or fans will regain the trust in those running our football club...too much has passed to make this happen...I wouldn't care if we went back to those thrifty days providing everyone was pulling together and working to the same aim..
Rob Mitchell is a good guy i agree - but to make this clear, he isn't related to Eddie Mitchell.

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Tommo_71 says...
12:28pm Wed 13 Mar 13

In Absentia wrote:
I'd let Steve Evans buy Matt Tubbs as well. I still think the team needs a strong player in central midfield to break up the opposition play, like we used to have when Bartley was at the club. If we don't go up this year, there'll be a lot more of these types of headline.
Spot on.

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lockandload says...
12:37pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Ambition is not spoke about anymore.
Instead its about cutting costs and saving money.
Something isnt right at the club at the moment?

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lofty1971 says...
2:44pm Wed 13 Mar 13

molbol wrote:
seuthsayer wrote:
...have to say that Rob Mitchell is decent guy and does a good job PR wise with customers....but the others should be got rid of, I just feel that AFCB will NEVER move forward or fans will regain the trust in those running our football club...too much has passed to make this happen...I wouldn't care if we went back to those thrifty days providing everyone was pulling together and working to the same aim..
Rob Mitchell is a good guy i agree - but to make this clear, he isn't related to Eddie Mitchell.
Yes agreed Rob Mitchell is NOT related to the other Mitchell's and he does seem to do a good job - probably in line for being made redundant then and replaced with a proper Mitchell!!

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matt68 says...
3:01pm Wed 13 Mar 13

what we need is a squad of about 19 good quality players,when you get injuries just bring in some good quality loan players and maybe play 1 or 2 of the best youngsters. the squad is far too big eh knows this, there is no need to panic thinking we are in financial trouble, it makes sense to trim squad now and start building for next season.

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West moors 1 says...
3:19pm Wed 13 Mar 13

No need to panic, they are just sorting the club out and starting to look at the running costs which we all know have been far too high be to sustainable. We have some players who will never figure, McDermott, Partington, Flahaven and dare I say it Fletcher But Howe need to find out who his best players are and who could make the next level, I'm not sure he's quite there yet. Last night sounded like a fairly tight contest and a good win for us at last! Up the cherries!!

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Roband65 says...
8:09pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Agreed Rob Mitchell does a good job are you sure he is not related I thought he was a stepson

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gameon says...
8:34pm Wed 13 Mar 13

So if we need to make cuts can anyone tell me why Brooks And Groves the Useless twosome havnt been shown the door or are Mitchells Bum Chums plan B again if Eddie and Tindall get a better offer just a thought ??????

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goatty says...
9:39pm Wed 13 Mar 13

charlie2004 wrote:
lofty1971 wrote:
Tom Mitchell, Groves and Brooks should be paid off and binned.

No use to the club at all.
And the other son, don't know his name and while he's at it get rid of the Mitchell's wife, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and anyone else associated with them who know nothing about running a football club but are milking the club dry.
You mean Joshua Mitchell, who like his brother does not contribute anything to the club.
Lets see what family members are at the club and paid by the club -
Joshua Mitchell - Son
Thomas Mitchell - Son
Neill Blake - Son in Law
Joanne Blake - Daughter in law
Brenda Mitchell - Wife
Hazell Kite - Ex Wife
Sheila Poole - Brenda Mitchell's Sister
Richard Poole - Sheila's Son
Anyone want to have a guess how much this lot must cost the club each week?

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gameon says...
10:40pm Wed 13 Mar 13

goatty wrote:
charlie2004 wrote:
lofty1971 wrote:
Tom Mitchell, Groves and Brooks should be paid off and binned.

No use to the club at all.
And the other son, don't know his name and while he's at it get rid of the Mitchell's wife, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and anyone else associated with them who know nothing about running a football club but are milking the club dry.
You mean Joshua Mitchell, who like his brother does not contribute anything to the club.
Lets see what family members are at the club and paid by the club -
Joshua Mitchell - Son
Thomas Mitchell - Son
Neill Blake - Son in Law
Joanne Blake - Daughter in law
Brenda Mitchell - Wife
Hazell Kite - Ex Wife
Sheila Poole - Brenda Mitchell's Sister
Richard Poole - Sheila's Son
Anyone want to have a guess how much this lot must cost the club each week?
Well done goatty very informative Mitchell the self appointed Lifelong Cherries Fan who none of us ever saw at the ground untill he raised his head here. Perhaps his beleivers might now have a different view of this person who is Milking our Club.I cant understand why the russian puts up with this assuming that he knows which i doubt.

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jakeysredd says...
10:45pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Sounds to me as though a lot of players will be out of work next season, who can buy players when a lot of teams have large squads, where are they all going to get employed, **** just came to me, PORTSMOUTH , ALL ON ONE MONTH CONTRACTS, Well done on the new rulings done wonders yet again,

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