AFC Bournemouth have confirmed new shirts will not be available for the start of the season.

The replica home shirts are currently expected to go on sale at the end of August.

A statement from the club said it is hoped the shirt will be available for fans to buy ahead of the Leicester City game on August 29.

Cherries kick off their first Premier League season at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

"Every effort is being made to ensure stock arrives in the Club Store for supporters to purchase ahead of the home match against Leicester City", the statement said.

“I completely understand fans’ frustrations and they can rest assured we did everything possible to get shirts on sale ahead of the opening weekend of the season,” commercial director Rob Mitchell added.

“A great deal of time has been invested, both in the design and looking for a new sponsor, to give us a kit to be proud of as the club competes on a global stage.”

The design was worked on closely with JD and the management team over a number of months, the club said.

The delay has been caused by the late finalising of sponsorship deals.

The original shirt was ready for production with former shirt sponsors Energy Consulting towards the end of the 2014/15 season.

But, the club said they "chose to maximise the commercial opportunities available following promotion and began looking for a new sponsor."

The deal with new sponsors Mansion Group has been described as "one of the most significant deals in its history".

“We fully appreciate the excitement around the new kit launch, with the high demand for such a prestigious kit, and we aim to have an exact date for the fans as soon as possible," JD’s Lee Conlon added.