CHERRIES star Simon Francis insisted he had no immediate plans to hang up his boots – but revealed he was preparing for the eventuality.

Francis and no fewer than seven of his team-mates are taking their next step on the coaching ladder by working towards their UEFA B licence.

The Cherries skipper, who turned 33 on Friday, is joined by Harry Arter, Steve Cook, Charlie Daniels, Dan Gosling, Junior Stanislas, Andrew Surman and Callum Wilson.

As part of the course, the players have been conducting training sessions in the club’s academy and will move on to take the under-18s and under-21s.

The level-three licence is an internationally-recognised qualification and the minimum requirement to coach at a professional academy.

It is being delivered by Mike Cook, PFA regional coach educator in the South West, who moved into coaching after his playing career had been cut short by injury in 1992.

Francis told the Daily Echo: “We have been quite fortunate because when you do level two or UEFA B, you normally have to do it over 10 days in the summer and you are sitting in a classroom.

“Mike has come here to do a lot of the sessions so we are killing two birds with one stone. It means we can get it done during the season rather than take it out of our summer which is quite a short break.

“I am at a great age to do it as I am focusing on the next chapter in my career after playing.

“I think the other lads would agree that it makes you look at the game differently as well. I am not necessarily saying it improves you but it certainly makes you think differently and can only help.”

Francis, who has made more than 250 league appearances for Cherries in the top three divisions, is in his seventh season at Dean Court.

A bargain £25,000 buy from Charlton in 2012, he added: “First and foremost, after I have finished playing, I would love to stay in the game in some capacity.

“This club is great with its former players. You see them in and around the club coaching all the way down the age groups.

“If I could stay involved in the club somehow, whether that’s coaching, the recruitment side, scouting or anything, I would love to.

“Hopefully, not too soon though!”

In skippering Cherries to victory over Arsenal last month, Francis became the club’s 20th leading appearance maker.

He said: “Hopefully, there are many more to come. My aim is to stay here as long as possible and I would love to finish my career here.

“I am not getting any younger but am enjoying every minute of it, being captain and churning out the games week in week out. If I could break into the top 15, that would be excellent as well.”