CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell has revealed he has held talks with potential Cherries managerial candidates ahead of trying to make an appointment next week.

Mitchell confirmed he had informally discussed the vacancy with possible successors to departed Cherries boss Paul Groves.

Cherries are searching for a new manager after Groves and his assistant Shaun Brooks were both relieved of their duties on Wednesday.

Mitchell insists he will not rush the decision but says he is hoping to steady the ship by making a move next week.

Speaking to the Daily Echo this afternoon, Mitchell said: “I can’t say there is a set timeframe. We want to get a settled club as soon as possible and that is what we are going to do. But we want to make the right decisions and, sometimes, that takes time.

“I would say that we have considered various options and we are, perhaps, throwing a few candidates in the bin and concentrating on looking at others. We are studying people and trying to get the best out of what we can be.”

Asked whether he had spoken to potential candidates, Mitchell replied: “Yeah, I have. I would be a bit slow after three days if I hadn’t spoken to anybody. I have got to do my job which is to appoint a manager – and the right one.

“I don’t want to try to break any records on timescales of doing it but, likewise, I want to get the club as stable as I can as quickly as I can. What I don’t want to do is make the wrong choice.

“We have got to think about things, reactions from talking to people, what their demands are and what we have got to offer, and find the right option.”

Mitchell, who described the discussions as “informal talks” rather than interviews, declined to reveal how many candidates had been spoken to.

He also remained tight-lipped on whether approaches had been made for managers already in work.

When asked whether those involved in talks were employed, he said: “If I was speaking directly to people who were employed, I would be breaking the handbook rules and I wouldn’t do that.”

Mitchell confirmed Dennis Rofe and Chris Hargreaves would be in charge for Cherries’ League One trip to Coventry City tomorrow (3pm).

He added: “We are anxious and keen to get the right person as soon as possible.

“Our preferred choice would be next week but there is no guarantee we will find that right person.

“We have got a game tomorrow, a confident team in charge and a good group of players.

“I just hope the fans get behind those who are in charge tomorrow and we will try to get a positive result at Coventry, and I think we will.”

Mitchell said there had been a “considerable amount” of interest in the vacancy.

Bookmakers’ favourite Steve Cotterill declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Echo today.

Other managers linked with the post include Eddie Howe, Gary Johnson, Greg Abbott and Karl Robinson.