HEAD coach Will Croker plucked four new signings from lower levels and then vowed to make Bournemouth the go-to place for the region’s rising stars.

The newly-appointed Chapel Gate chief swooped to sign prop Steve Osborne and winger Gareth Kelly from former club Basingstoke, full-back Alex Everett-Bolter from New Milton & District and Ellingham & Ringwood captain Duncan Soden.

It represents a three-tier jump for Everett-Bolter and Soden, while Osborne and Kelly played a level below Lions last term.

Croker, appointed earlier this month after the sudden exit of Craig White and Dan Connolly, promised open entry to the club’s “gold squad” in training where any player that wishes to can pursue a first XV berth.

And the 38-year-old has extended the invite to emerging talent from Bournemouth’s local rivals on the eve of his first season at the helm.

Croker told the Daily Echo: “Because we are not in a position to offer money or contracts to people, we have had to work the local scene.

“There are some good clubs with good players within the Wessex region and while we aren’t actively going out to poach players, we do have an open door policy. Anyone who wants to test themselves at a higher level is more than welcome to do so at Bournemouth.

“With the Southampton clubs dropping down the pecking order, Basingstoke and Winchester playing in the London leagues and teams like Oakmeadians dropping back, it means Bournemouth is the club of choice for players with aspiration in the Wessex region.

“We would never go round tapping up players but at the same time, we want to be the hub for local guys to play at a decent standard. In the main, one club in an area usually takes the lead and we want to be that club.

“Over the years, the club has had some very talented coaches but possibly did not have links with the local rugby community. As such, they were not able to actively recruit because they didn’t know who to speak to or where to go to get the ball rolling.

“With regard to how the other clubs feel about it, they have to make sure they show enough aspiration so that those players want to stay.”

On his gold squad initiative, Croker added: “We want to eliminate the team structure and open things up to anyone who wants to play first or second team rugby.

“The thinking is that it will be one squad which is only separated by 80 minutes on a Saturday. Irrespective of who you are or where you come from, you will get your opportunity here.”