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FLETCH'S HOME HOPE
7:00am Saturday 10th May 2008
Comments (26)
CHERRIES legend Steve Fletcher is hankering after a move closer to his Bourne-mouth home - but admits his chances of a surprise return to Dean Court are "slim to none".
The popular Teessider, Cherries' record appearance-maker, joined League Two outfit Chesterfield following his release by Kevin Bond 12 months ago.
And despite being offered a new one-year contract by the Spireites, Fletcher has rejected the deal in favour of trying to find a club in the south.
However, although Cherries were relegated and Fletcher's experience could prove valuable in the bottom tier, the 35-year-old has all but ruled out the possibility of a comeback.
Fletcher told the Daily Echo: "I will love the club until the day I die and although the thought of coming back would be fantastic, the chances of it happening are probably slim to none.
"You hear of players going back to their previous clubs but, 99 times out of a 100, it's usually under a different manager. I can't see that Kevin would release me one year and then bring me back the next.
"He will have a budget to work with for next season and it's probably going to be a lot less than it was this season so he is going to have to find players to fit into his structure.
"But as much as Bournemouth is my club and always will be, the possibility of me coming back is extremely unlikely in the current circumstances."
Fletcher is hoping to continue to ply his trade in League One or League Two, but also says he would consider stepping into the non-league ranks for the first time in his career.
He turned down the chance of a second year at Chesterfield after triggering an appearance-related clause which entitled him to an extension. He hit five goals in 39 games for the Derbyshire club.
Fletcher, father to daughters Danni, 10, and seven-year-old Emily, added: "I turned it down because I want to be closer to home to be with my family.
"I was spending a lot of time here but it was still difficult while I was away and it was a strain on my family life. As the children get older, they get more demanding and my wife works as well.
"We made a huge decision for me to move away last summer and not many 35-year-olds are in a position to turn down a decent contract offer at a Football League club.
"I've spoken to a few clubs, a couple in the league and a couple in the Conference, but I've limited it to a certain radius. I don't want to be travelling more than an hour-and-a-half, otherwise it wouldn't justify moving back.
"As much as moving away last year was a massive decision to make, this year is probably more important. Every year is getting closer to the end of my career and, if I want to stay in the game in some capacity, the next move has got to be the right one with a chance of maybe doing a bit of coaching."
Your Say YourBournemouth Echo
dan, kinson says...
7:49am Sat 10 May 08
tednphil, bournemouth says...
8:21am Sat 10 May 08
5 goals in a season, in the lowest league is just what we need to push for promotion next year? I don't think so.
Sorry, you can't afford sentiment in league football, otherwise we end up with another Perrett or Telfer.
dan, kinson says...
8:40am Sat 10 May 08
GMcMahon, Highcliffe says...
9:07am Sat 10 May 08
dan wrote:Stop living in the past, we have two young players that can more than fill his boots and are scoring more goals, why would we want a 35 year old coming off the bench I would much rather see an 18 year old with pace and passion, also why pay the wages of a senior pro, (he was our highest paid player before he left), when we can be better off with a younger player who won't cost as much to sit on the bench for the season, I know there is affection for Fletch and that he may one day be manager but he is not the type of player we need to move the team forward, past glories are just that and should remain in the past.
lets not miss the point, i'm no chesterfield fan , mearly stating the fact that limited time on the playing field had done him no favours but he still played a lot of games and was still affective, he's never suffered from long term injuries or other problems like other pros, just a shame some people have bad experience with a couple of older pros and think that thats standard, and as for where they finished, the top teams in that league will be the top two in league one next season so no shortage on quality.
kenno, Sidmouth says...
10:25am Sat 10 May 08
kenno, Sidmouth says...
10:32am Sat 10 May 08
We also need cover at goalkeeper, right back,right and left midfield.
Pryce has potential but perhaps the best way forward to get more games under his belt will be to be loaned out to somewhere like Tiverton Town. Martin Rogers, the manager, works well with youngsters and had Ben Foster there for a while before Man Utd let him join Watford on loan.
As far as pre season friendlies are concerned we should plan as a league one team looking to win league 2 next season.We are a good side and only in league two because of a points deduction.
Personally I have never been a great fan of loads of friendles against non league opposition looking to kick lumps out of us.The Weymouth players treated last seasons friendly like a cup final.And that is two seasons on the trot we have been stuffed there with a team full of trialists.
For the first time in recent years lets make sure we start the season like greyhounds.The football league can play their part by making sure our first game is at home to get us off to a cracking start.
Come on you reds.
AFCB AL, says...
10:34am Sat 10 May 08
2 goals in his last season for us was hopeless.
Wish him all the best though.
No doubt that Telfer was a complete and utter disaster which played a big part in our relegation.
free wessex, dorset says...
11:25am Sat 10 May 08
or Exeter if they make it?
scottie, Salisbury says...
2:05pm Sat 10 May 08
AFCB AL wrote:fully agree with part 1, as long as we hold on to them. The 2nd part I agree that you never saw the real paul telfer. But I can assure you that he was one hell of a player. He unfortunately had to play through a serious injury while with us, this hampered any sight of what he could do. He was a calculated gamble which did not happen
Fletch is a part of AFCB and respect him for that - but never again as a player. Vokes is a better player already than Fletch ever was! 2 goals in his last season for us was hopeless. Wish him all the best though. No doubt that Telfer was a complete and utter disaster which played a big part in our relegation.
flyingleaper, el segundo ca.USA says...
5:20pm Sat 10 May 08
HHHHHHHHHH-(of 2 c BECKHAM and the GALAXY 2 night, BMTH SHIRT ON--AAAHHHHHHHH)
weiland, winton says...
9:04pm Sat 10 May 08
rcmorgan20, Carlisle, Cumbria says...
10:30pm Sat 10 May 08
GMcMahon, Highcliffe says...
7:09am Sun 11 May 08
weiland wrote:Steve Fletch gets the beers in, must be the right man for the job then, come on sentiment is one thing but he has no experience of management, you can't expect him to walk in and suddenly everything will be different or did you not notice how we ended the season, it would take something else to top that run, and to say we would of stayed up with him in charge is a nonsense as well, you are living in the past he was never that good a player, full of passion yes but in the last few seasons he has been falling off the pace and he didn't have that much pace to start with. We have to move forward with the younger players and build a team around Vokes he is our new Fletch and already a better player not to mention he is already scoring more goals, I know Fletch is loved by the fans but we are not in a position for sentiment we need a team that can fight it's way out of league 2 and Fletch just doesn't have what we need anymore. When he becomes manager in a few years that will be great but he still wants to play and he needs to go into coaching before he comes back here, good luck to him we will see him one day but just not yet.
do a swap! kevin bond out big feltch in..... its the old saying you dont know what you got till its gone!!!! feltch come back we all want ya,we all missed ya....and we would have stayed up with you around! coz you got more heart than bondy! you care about us....you had time for us fans and bought me a few buds you and matty holland! got time for you big fella!
mike, poole says...
10:49am Sun 11 May 08
Moose, Ferndown says...
11:43am Sun 11 May 08
mike wrote:Hold the ball up,yes,but a big forward also needs pace,which is fletch's downfall now at his age.He would never have scored that winning goal against Crewe like Sam Vokes did,would he? Fletch's time has gone - the last thing we all want is to be sat watching and shouting 'Oh Fletch!' or 'Get him off'.Vokes and Kuffour both scored more goals this season than Fletch scored in his best-ever season.I wish him all the best.
If Vokes leaves and Kuffour stays, we need a big forward to hold the ball for Jo. Remember the lower division is more physical and without protection Jo will get kicked all over the place. Let's face it, Sam is likely to leave. Who will provide the cover for Jo? At least Steve has had experience of playing in Div 2
GMcMahon, Highcliffe says...
12:08pm Sun 11 May 08
mike wrote:It wont be Fletch that's for sure, he is past it we don't need anymore old players surely the last season has shown you that, leave Fletch in your memories he's had his time.
If Vokes leaves and Kuffour stays, we need a big forward to hold the ball for Jo. Remember the lower division is more physical and without protection Jo will get kicked all over the place. Let's face it, Sam is likely to leave. Who will provide the cover for Jo? At least Steve has had experience of playing in Div 2
Nixtrix_afcb, Sheffield says...
12:50pm Sun 11 May 08
GMcMahon, Highcliffe says...
12:56pm Sun 11 May 08
Nixtrix_afcb wrote:Yes I am sure they were, we were more than happy with Fletch but it doesn't mean we need him or want him back now he is a year older, think about his last season for us he hardly set the world alight and new we have players coming through who are already playing and scoring which Fletch has never been the best at, it will be great if he comes back in a coaching role in a year or two but as a player he is too high risk, after all we are going to have a smaller squad than last season and that put us under pressure from match one what we don't need is another 35 year old sat on the bench when the money can put to better use, sorry Fletch we love you but some of us think it's all in the past, hopefully others will see what we need more than another ageing player.
Now living in Sheffield I know a couple of Chesy fans, they wer more than happy with Fletch.
Bimht, sherborne says...
2:57pm Sun 11 May 08
mike, poole says...
4:04pm Sun 11 May 08
I think you've missed my point. I wrote that Vokes is very likely to leave. You mentioned him twice as though he is staying. IF he DOES leave, who will be the 'big' forward to take the pressure off Jo Kuffour and hold the ball for him -something Fletcher was very capable of doing. I know he didn't score many goals, but he enabled others to do so.
kevvo, The dog house again says...
7:56pm Sun 11 May 08
Bimht wrote:Bigger Charactar than Bond so it wont happen although 15 to 20 games is very good if you look at some of the People we had last season but Fletch is our past we need to look to the future now
...I for one feel that given SF could only probably play about 15-20 games a season...I think it would be a good idea to offer him a pay as you play deal...he can still do a job for us in L2 IMO...and he truly loves this football club...his dressing room presence alone must be valuable?
Richard, Bournemouth says...
9:39pm Sun 11 May 08
His goals per game ratio is pretty poor for a centre forward anyway although he always worked hard.
cherryfan, Horndean says...
9:45pm Sun 11 May 08
rcmorgan20, Carlisle, Cumbria says...
10:47pm Sun 11 May 08
il Perret has planted the seed.........BOND FOR MAYOR......PLSbDONT GO!
kevvo, The dog house again says...
11:02am Mon 12 May 08
HAVE YOU GOT YOUR MYSTERY INVESTOR YET JEFF
DO TELL
Steve Fletcher
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GMcMahon, Highcliffe says...
7:22am Sat 10 May 08