CHERRIES' first-team coach Chris Hargreaves is a leading contender to fill the vacant manager's post at his former club Torquay, the Daily Echo understands.

Hargreaves captained the Gulls when they returned to the Football League in 2009 and netted in their Conference play-off final victory over Cambridge at Wembley.

The 41-year-old, who is already believed to have had an interview for the manager's job at Northampton, would be a popular choice to replace Alan Knill, who was sacked by Torquay earlier today.

Hargreaves joined Cherries in July 2012 and headed up the club's newly-formed development squad under previous bosses Paul Groves and Shaun Brooks.

He was promoted to the first-team staff by Eddie Howe during a reshuffle which saw Stephen Purches handed a player-coach role.

Earlier this season, Hargreaves was linked with Torquay when Knill came under pressure during a poor run, with the Gulls understood to be planning to make a formal approach in the next few days.

Hargreaves, who has kept the family home in Devon, made more than 100 appearances for Torquay during a three-year stay at Plainmoor.