CHERRIES stalwart Marc Pugh will leave the club this summer after nine seasons at Vitality Stadium.

The 32-year-old winger will depart at the end of June upon the expiry of his contract.

Pugh joined Cherries in the summer of 2010, with the Dorset club paying a £100,000 tribunal fee to former club Hereford.

The Lancastrian played a key role in promotion from League One in 2012-13 before winning the Championship in 2014-15.

He helped the club secure its Premier League status ever since, however, with limited first-team opportunities on the south coast this season, the former Burnley and Shrewsbury talent went out on loan to second-tier side Hull in January.

Pugh has scored 56 goals in 312 appearances for Cherries and will receive a special presentation on the pitch before tomorrow's final home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.

Boss Eddie Howe told the Cherries website: “Marc has been an incredible servant to AFC Bournemouth over the past nine seasons.

“He has epitomised the club’s journey through the Football League to where we are today and has not only been a great player on the pitch but a key figure off it, too.

“He has always displayed incredible professionalism in any situation and he set the standards in terms of teamwork.

“He is someone who has been the perfect role model for younger players to look at and follow.

“I would finally like to say thank you to Marc on behalf of everyone connected with AFC Bournemouth.”

Pugh won the prestigious Daily Echo/Micky Cave supporters' player-of-the-year trophy in the 2011-12 season and quickly grew into a fans' favourite.

His haul of 274 league appearances sees him leave Cherries as 14th highest appearance-maker in the club's history.

Cherries chief executive Neill Blake told the Cherries website: “Such loyalty and commitment to one club is rare in the modern game, and Marc should be very proud of what he has achieved in nine years here.

“His contribution to AFC Bournemouth both on and off the pitch cannot be underestimated and he is quite rightly a club legend.

“This gives Marc the opportunity to get the regular game time he wants and deserves and we wish him well for the remainder of his career.”