SIMON Francis is predicting a hotly-contested race to find the winner of the prestigious Daily Echo-Micky Cave AFC Bournemouth supporters’ player-of-the-year award.

Francis, who added his name to the roll of honour last season, is one of a host of contenders to lift the trophy for his efforts during a record-breaking campaign for Cherries.

As voting opened today, Francis told the Daily Echo: “Individually and as a team, we have really upped our game this season.

“We have shown a lot of people what we are capable of, how much we can improve and how much we have improved. The award is for one individual but we have been so good as a team and it is going to be a really difficult choice to single out anyone.

“When anyone is voting or nominating you and you manage to win, it is always a very proud achievement because it shows you are doing something right on the pitch and people are taking note of that. I was privileged to win it last season and, whoever wins it this year, will be equally as proud.

“I think it goes down to how well we have done as a team as well. We are such a close-knit unit and a group of lads who get on really well.

"We are striving for success but everyone is working hard for each other and I think we show that week in, week out.”

 

Who is your AFC Bournemouth player of the year?