BOSSES at AFC Bournemouth are putting together a secret shortlist of new sites ahead of a planned move from Vitality Stadium.

In early December, the Premier League club announced proposals to leave their ground of 106 years. It is hoped that a new stadium will be built by the start of the 2020/21 season.

At a meeting of Bournemouth’s full council on Tuesday night, it was heard that challenges facing the club ‘should not be underestimated’.

“We fully support [the club’s] aspiration to develop a new stadium,” said council leader John Beesley.

“There is a real will to get this done. However, we should not underestimate the challenges facing the club.

“A modern football stadium is a very significant investment and would probably include conference, leisure and community facilities.

“It would need to have enough space for these other elements to make it work all year round. This results in a substantial footprint.

“Working with the club and their consultants, a short-list of possible sites is being prepared and we are fully engaged in assisting them as they seek to identify their preferred option.”

When plans for the move were announced last year, the club released a statement in which frustrations about attempts to buy the current stadium back from London-based property company Stuctadene were expressed.

Speaking on behalf of the club’s board of directors, Mr Blake said the Cherries “feel we have no other option but to find a new site”.

Bournemouth have played at their current ground since 1910, but it was sold to Structadene in 2005 in a sale-and-leaseback deal

The club has since paid around £300,000 rent per year.

Cllr Beesley said the council is “working closely” with managers at the club.

“To be clear, we are all on the same side in this and that means no unnecessary delays and a real will be me and all parties involved to find a solution as quickly as can be achieved,” he said.

“From all that I have seen, the club has made its position very clear about committing further investment to the King’s Park Stadium and everybody understands why that is probably not the option they will pursue.”