CRAWLEY Town have confirmed they have opened talks with Cherries regarding the possibility of re-signing striker Matt Tubbs on a permanent basis.

Tubbs, who helped the Sussex outfit win promotion to the Football League in 2011, has netted eight times in 16 appearances since joining the League One outfit on loan in January.

The Verwood-raised 29-year-old, who lives in Mudeford, joined Cherries from Crawley in January 2012 and has a year left on his contract at Dean Court.

He cut short an unsuccessful loan spell at Rotherham to initially sign a one-month deal with Crawley, the move subsequently extended until the end of the season.

Tubbs netted six times in 31 league games for Cherries last season but has not featured for the club since starting in a 3-1 home win over Notts County more than 12 months ago.

Crawley boss John Gregory, speaking in an interview with the Brighton Argus on Friday, said: “Michael Dunford (Crawley’s chief executive) has had some conversations with Bournemouth and we certainly have been talking to Matt and his agent regarding next season.

“We will have a clearer picture after Bournemouth’s next couple of games but, like everything, money could be a deciding factor too.”

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Shwan Jalal, who is out of contract with Cherries at the end of this season, trained last week with League Two outfit Bury.

Jalal, who has had loan spells at Oxford United and Leyton Orient this season, has been told he is unlikely to be offered fresh terms by Cherries when his current deal expires at the end of June.