CHERRIES star Simon Francis revealed he had been keen to "give something back" after taking over Harry Arter's academy.

Arter launched the venture – based at Ashdown Leisure Centre in Poole – in the summer of 2016 but has elected to step back due to family commitments.

And that has allowed long-serving defender Francis to step into the breach at what will now be known as the Simon Francis Academy.

The Cherries captain told the Daily Echo: "It's about giving something back to the town which has always been so good to us as a football team and me personally.

"I am delighted to take over and it's great to put my name to something like that and to see kids enjoying football.

"It's always been a plan of mine to start an academy and Harry kind of swooped in a couple of years ago.

"I wasn't going to begrudge him that and set up one alongside it because it wouldn't have worked having two players doing the same thing in the same town.

"I told him I would love to be involved at some stage and went down there a few times and saw how well it was doing.

"Me and Harry spend a lot of time together and he said he had not had enough time to get down there.

"He had his baby last year and given everything that has gone on with him over the past couple of years, he has been spending much more time with his family, which is completely understandable.

"My kids are at school now which gives me a lot more free time and we came to the agreement that I would take it over."

Francis is planning to make the trip to Ashdown soon – and says his team-mates will follow suit.

He added: "I'll be there for the opening session and after that as much as I can. I will, hopefully, be bringing players down and we'll have prizes and giveaways.

"I can't wait to get down there but while it's starting off, I won't be dictating too much."

For more information, visit @Academy_SFA on Twitter, @SimonFrancisAcademy on Facebook or simonfrancisacademy.com.