CARL FLETCHER says he wants to push Cherries' young players "as far as possible" in his new role as the club's under-21 manager.

The former midfielder – who captained Cherries to victory in the 2003 Third Division play-off final – is stepping up from his position as under-18 boss.

Alan Connell will move from his job in the academy to replace Fletcher in that post, while Joe Roach is staying on as the club's head of academy.

The under-21 vacancy was created after Stephen Purches assumed a position on Eddie Howe's first-team staff last season. Mark Molesley, who had plugged the gap on an interim basis, will assist Fletcher, alongside his new job as manager of Southern Premier Weymouth.

“I have a strong affiliation with the club and I’m delighted to take on the role,” Fletcher told the Cherries website.

“It’s great for my development to come into the role and try to become a better coach. I was with the under-18s for three years and felt I did well.

“I’m looking forward to the different challenges the role will bring and to increase the development of the players going forwards.

“I’ve worked with the majority of the players at the younger level and now the job for them and for me is to push on as far as possible.”

Connell, a former striker who had two stints with Cherries as a player and was part of the 2008-09 Great Escape campaign, returned to work at the club two years ago, when he was still playing with Poole Town.

He said: “We had an academy meeting recently where the plans for moving forwards and the changes to be made were discussed.

“Happily, I was offered the role with the under-18s which I was very pleased to accept.

“I’ve had a long association with the club and it’s a real honour to take on this position. It means a lot to me and I will work 24/7 to be successful with the players at under-18 level.”

Connell will be assisted by Graham Mills, the club's lead youth development phase coach.

Long-serving Roach, who was responsible for overseeing the development of, among others, Sam Vokes and Danny Ings, as well as current young hopefuls Baily Cargill and Sam Surridge, had been expected to leave the club following the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

Nevertheless, that decision has been reversed, with the club saying Roach will "stay in his post to ensure the academy continues to progress in line with the club’s aims and ambitions".