DEVELOPMENT squad coach Stephen Purches believes Cherries are reaping the rewards of utilising the non-league loan market – with Baily Cargill one of the biggest success stories.

Purches, appointed to Eddie Howe’s backroom staff in the summer, has given the green light for a number of players to go out on temporary transfers this season.

And while he says the facility allows the individuals to have the “best of both worlds”, he also knows Cherries benefit as the players continue their education in what can be a school of hard knocks.

No fewer than nine members of the Cherries development squad are currently out on loan, although they still train on a daily basis under Purches’s watchful eye at Dean Court.

Purches told the Daily Echo: “It benefits the club greatly because they are learning in a really competitive environment. Non-league can be slightly different to what some of them are used to and it makes their game understanding much better.

“There is a win-at-all-costs mentality when you are playing in a proper league and, sometimes, they need to go out to learn that rather than just by playing development squad games. From our point of view, it makes them grow up quicker.

“There are some very good players in the leagues we are sending them to and our lads can’t be expected to walk in and think it is easy just because they are with a pro club. It is a great learning curve for them to find out where they are and how good they are at the respective levels.”

Teenage defender Cargill was voted AFC Totton’s player of the year last season before starring during a loan spell with Welling. Some Wings supporters even likened the 18-year-old to Carl Jenkinson, the Arsenal and England defender who had a loan spell with Welling during his time at Charlton in 2010.

Purches added: “It is all about progression and Baily made the step from the Southern League to the Conference and it did him a power of good. We are always looking for the players to step up because, ultimately, we eventually want them knocking on the door for the first team.

“I have spent my first season trying to develop links with clubs because we need the players to go to the right places. We are for-tunate to have some great clubs around here and the managers care about what they are doing. The Pooles, Tottons and Dorches-ters of this world are great places for the lads to play and learn.

“One of the biggest plus-points is the flexibility. The players train with me daily, they play friendlies with the development squad and they play competitive football with their loan clubs. We feel it is working well and are keen to keep these links going and maybe establish others.”

LOAN RANGERS (development squad players currently on loan)

  • Harry Cornick (Welling United)
  • Josh Wakefield (Welling United)
  • Josh Carmichael (Gosport Borough)
  • Benji Buchel (Havant & Waterlooville)
  • Charlie Losasso (Dorchester Town)
  • Jake McCarthy (Dorchester Town)
  • Jordan Chiedozie (Poole Town)
  • Harrison Gilkes (AFC Totton)
  • Lewis Lindsay (AFC Totton)