CHERRIES captain Tommy Elphick signed a fresh two-and-a-half-year deal and then admitted his decision had been triggered by a faith in the club’s ambitions.

The 27-year-old, whose previous contract was due to expire at the end of this season, is now tied down until June 2017.

Elphick is the latest defensive star to commit his future to Cherries after Steve Cook and Simon Francis put pen to paper in July and August respectively.

And centre-half Elphick, who arrived at the club from Brighton in August 2012, was delighted to sign on the dotted line.

He told Cherries’ official website: “With the way that the club is progressing, it’s nice to know I will be part of the future.

“When you’re in the last year of a contract you are wondering when or if (a new deal) will happen, so it’s nice to put it to bed.

“I wouldn’t have signed the contract if I didn’t think we were going to progress. I’m not here to sit on a contract and see the time through. I’m here because I want to match the ambition of the gaffer and the owner and make the next step up.”

Boss Eddie Howe praised Elphick for the impact he had made during his two-year spell at Dean Court and said the defender had thrived in the role of captain.

Howe said: “I think Tommy fully deserves this contract. Since the day we arrived, he has been the model professional.

“I think his performance levels have improved almost month on month as the seasons have gone by and I’m really happy with his game this year. It’s been a period of success for the club and he has typified that.

“We’ve been lucky to have some really good captains and Tommy is up there with some of the best. He is very vocal and generates respect from the other players, which I think is key.

“Every team needs leaders and different characters to make the team successful and Tommy brings a unique set of skills. He’s looked up to by the younger players and he steers them in the right direction in terms of their attitude and behaviour.

“Along with a few other strong personalities, he ensures we have a professional group of players.”