CHERRIES boss Kevin Bond hailed the rapid rise of Danny Hollands before tipping the midfielder for a bright footballing future.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season in the Cherries engine room and Bond pointed to the young player's improvement, and handling of the captain's armband, as key factors in him claiming the Daily Echo / Micky Cave Trophy.

Former Chelsea reserve team skipper Hollands polled 33 per cent of the vote to bag the supporters' player of the year award, as the Dean Court faithful voted for their favourite player in record numbers.

"I think the improvement in Danny from midway through the season has been tremendous," said Bond.

"We made him captain when we'd lost Darren, then Neil Young, and I think some people take that responsibility and it helps them - that was certainly the case with Danny.

"The confidence that comes with playing well is a compounding thing. You play well so confidence improves, and confidence improves so you play even better. I think that's what has happened to Danny and he's got the prospect of being a good player."

Hollands pipped popular Leicester City loan star Maxi Gradel (26 per cent) and homegrown talent Sam Vokes (20 per cent) to the prestigious accolade. And Bond, whose name is also engraved on the silverware, thinks a number of his squad would have been worthy winners.

He said: "I'm delighted for Danny and I think he deserves it, but I think there's a lot of players at the club who deserve special praise for the way they've played and improved through the course of the season.

"I'm happy for Danny but I think there's a lot of other players here who can feel pleased with themselves with the way they've improved, conducted themselves and performed through what is an extremely difficult period."

The contracts of a large group of Cherries players, including Hollands, are set to expire in the summer. But Bond is keen to channel all of his attention on today's crucial League One clash against Crewe at Dean Court (3pm), as his side aim to continue their remarkable recent run.

He said: "Whatever's going to be at the end of the season will be.

"I can only influence that by trying to help the team pick up some points and win some games, and that's all I'm doing.

"I'm not worrying about my job or who I'm going to have next year. Now is not the time for any of that.

"Now is the time to try to focus on trying to get a positive result against Crewe and really I'm not bothered about anything else.

"Come the end of the season, that will be the time to look at all the other stuff."