Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell has ruled out the possibility of Harry Redknapp returning to Dean Court either as boss or co-owner.

But he says he would welcome Redknapp on to the board as his wealth of knowledge would benefit management duo Paul Groves and Shaun Brooks and director of football Tom Mitchell.

Eddie Mitchell, who owns the club with Russian businessman Maxim Demin, was speaking in the aftermath of Redknapp’s sacking as manager of Premier League Tottenham on Wednesday.

Dorset-based Redknapp cut his teeth in management at Dean Court between 1983 and 1992 – leading Cherries to the second flight for the only time in their history in 1987.

Eddie Mitchell told the Daily Echo: “First and foremost, I think Harry would be more valuable to the bigger clubs and I’m sure they will be looking to gain his services.

“But if it ever came to the time when perhaps travelling and other things weren’t on the agenda for him, we would always welcome him back with open arms.

“I have run it by my partner and we would see no problem with Harry dropping in from time to time and doing something which he would enjoy. He knows Paul and Shaun and knows they are more than capable of taking this club forward. I know Harry’s nature and he wouldn’t jeopardise coming in and taking somebody else’s job.

“Managerial-wise, it is not an option and I don’t think Harry would do that anywhere. But if he ever wanted to come by and talk football, give advice and perhaps join the board, his experience would be invaluable.”

Asked by the Daily Echo whether the prospect of ownership or the position of director of football could be open to Redknapp, Eddie Mitchell replied: “Tom is director of football. He is very inexperienced compared with Harry but, nevertheless, he is a compatible person and very much like Harry. I am sure Tom could learn a fantastic amount from somebody like Harry so it wouldn’t be a case of coming in with a defined role.

“If you had the freedom to come in to talk to Paul, Shaun and Tom and to sit down with myself and Max, we would perhaps assess a value to that and maybe sort something out with Harry. It is not an unrealistic possibility.

“I don’t think we would want Harry to get financially involved with the club and I don’t think he would want that either. I think probably his future is on the television because he comes across well, he has a wealth of knowledge and that’s where I think he would get most fun.

“We are just up the road from where Harry lives and want to go places as a club. I am sure Harry would be able to help us.”