Cherries: The leading man is happy with his role (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: The leading man is happy with his role

7:00am Friday 5th February 2010

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By Neil Perrett »

AS the clock ticked towards the close of the transfer window, Cherries’ leading man Brett Pitman was out of the spotlight, ensuring there would be no dramatic late twist.

Relieved manager Eddie Howe must have felt like an Oscar-winning film director as the gripping Pitman Saga came to a perfect end for Cherries.

As the plot continued to thicken during January, speculation linking the club’s prized asset and rising star with a big-money move had been rife.

But although the 22-year-old took centre stage, with several suitors believed to have been tracking him, the trail finally ended as Monday’s deadline passed.

At the time, Pitman and his team-mates were tucked away in a South Yorkshire cinema relaxing ahead of Cherries’ clash at Rotherham the following day.

“While I was watching Book of Eli, the Daily Echo phoned to ask if I had been sold,” said Pitman. “I don’t think the person behind me was too happy when my phone went off!”

The Channel Islander added: “I have always said I can only keep doing what I have been doing on the pitch. I didn’t think I would leave in January and haven’t let the speculation affect me “Eddie spoke to me once at the start of the window and told me to keep doing what I was doing because I couldn’t control anything.

“I just want to keep scoring goals and for the team to keep winning. It’s more important for us to win than it is for me to score a goal. I get as much satisfaction from setting up goals as I do from scoring them.”

Howe, who has seen Pitman start to realise his rich potential during the past 12 months, has expressed delight at keeping him and hopes his star striker will continue to spearhead Cherries’ promotion push.

Cherries managed to fend off interest in their leading marksman from Championship and League One clubs as Howe’s already-depleted squad remained intact through the window.

And although Pitman |had been the subject of intense speculation last month, Howe said no firm bids had been tabled for him despite some tentative enquiries.

The Jerseyman has been pivotal in Cherries’ quest for honours this season, his exquisite strike during the midweek win at Rotherham taking his personal tally to 17.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “It was great news for us that we didn’t lose anybody during the transfer window. I’m sure that if there had been any scouts at Rotherham, they were probably wishing they had put in a bid for Brett.

“He has been a vitally important player for us this season. He has been a regular scorer of goals and seems to be thriving |

on that responsibility. It was a cool finish at Rotherham and one of his best of the season.

“There were times when we thought we might lose him. He kept scoring goals and you thought someone would come in for him. But he’s got a long career ahead of him and I think there will be plenty of time.”

Pitman, who joined Cherries as a 15-year-old, has propelled himself to 17th in the club’s list of all-time record league goalscorers. He has also plundered more than 120 goals at three different levels since his arrival at Dean Court.

His pairing with Steve Fletcher reaped dividends as Cherries recorded a superb away double header at Crewe and Rotherham to reignite their promotion challenge.

Asked about partnering Fletcher, Pitman replied: “I like playing with all our forwards. Fletch brings something different and maybe you get a couple more chances off him because things drop.

“He was virtually unplayable against Crewe and Rotherham. I think he forgot he was 37 and was running around like a 21-year-old. Sometimes, I have to tell him to have a rest but he doesn’t want to. He wants to carry on and I think he epitomises what we all want to achieve here.”

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