EX-CHERRIES midfielder Mark Molesley has accepted an offer to become player-coach at Weymouth for the forthcoming campaign.

Molesley, 35, made 25 appearances for the Terras last season while taking his first steps towards a coaching career with Cherries under-15s.

Weymouth player-manager Jason Matthews told the Dorset Echo: “I think Mark brings a lot to the table and does things people don’t see. He is very knowledgeable and has a lot of brilliant ideas. I also feel he still has something to offer as a player.

“It shows the calibre of person he is that he has taken a (wage) cut to cut his teeth in first-team coaching and that’s a credit to Mark. I am really chuffed to have him on board.

“I am really pleased to have his links with Bournemouth as well. For me, that’s a massive plus.”

Molesley, who played professionally for Exeter, Plymouth and Aldershot as well as Cherries, took a part-time role at Vitality Stadium alongside Alan Connell at the start of last season.

At the time, first-team manager Eddie Howe said: “It is really healthy to have ex-professionals coaching the next generation.

“As the first team moved on and accelerated forward at such a rate, we had to say goodbye to some really good characters and players, people I was very fond of.

“To keep them associated with the football club was an easy decision."