MANAGER Eddie Howe admits he could be set to shed more players – but he insists he will retain the nucleus of his Cherries squad.
Howe revealed that he was in the process of reducing the size of the club’s roster after David James had departed Dean Court.
The Cherries boss inherited the largest squad in the club’s history – plus a reportedly hefty wage bill – when he succeeded Paul Groves in October.
Howe has since drafted in some new recruits but has trimmed numbers with James, Lorenzo Davids, Mark Molesley, Steven Gregory and Gary Bowles exiting and a host of other players sent out on loan.
Howe, who told the Daily Echo he could look to make cutbacks just days after taking charge, is adamant the changes will not stop promotion-chasing Cherries from building a bright future.
“We are confident in the players we have here and, if we have to trim the squad, our own feelings when we came back were that the squad was probably too heavy anyway,” Howe told the Daily Echo.
“We have lost several players already and I am sure we will lose some more, but I am sure the nucleus of the squad will stay together and we can still look to a positive future.”
Cherries last week made a number of club employees and backroom staff redundant in a process chairman Eddie Mitchell labelled “restructuring”.
Howe added: “We are well aware that Bournemouth, traditionally, have always been punching above our weight and working on small budgets, trying to over achieve given our resources.
“Recently, we have had investment in the squad and we just need to realign that. We will need to make cuts along with other departments of the football club. We are no different.”
