IT is fair to say in any job you do, those closest to you can always help relieve the stresses of day-to-day life.

Cherries have copped a fair bit of flak in recent months – having lost 10 of their past 13 Premier League games to find themselves in the relegation zone.

To be leading a side on and off the pitch that has been struggling for positive results can never be an easy task.

You are, quite simply, there to be shot at.

And while recent results have not gone the way of Simon Francis and the rest of his team-mates, the Dorset club’s captain believes being a proud family man helps him through the tough times.

Win, lose, or draw in his day job, the 34-year-old can quite often be seen doing the school run for children Halle and Jude in the week - a small but important thing to help take his mind off the intensity of England’s elite level.

“It’s great leading the boys out when you get a win like Brighton, or Chelsea away, when I was captain there,” said the Nottingham-born defender.

“They are the biggest moments in football. The ones you play the game for, the ones you dream of.

“But on the flip side of that is when you lose games. As captain, you hurt more than anyone.

“I’ve been more disappointed than anybody being the captain of this football club because, when results aren’t going your way, you feel it.

“I live locally, so I get enough of the chat from fans in and around the town. I’m always reminded of either how well we are doing or when we are not going very well.

“On a personal note, you have to be able to balance the two emotions of coming away from the football club and walking in through the door, seeing your family and kids and still being that family man that you can be.”

He added: “I think a lot of lads will tell you, especially those that have families, you can sometimes switch off.

“Don’t get me wrong, if you’re losing a lot of games and you are at the bottom of the league it is still always at the back of your mind.

“But just playing with the kids helps you take your mind off things.

“Any time you get off with them, even if it’s just the school run in the morning, it’s just nice to have a chat with the kids.”

Although sometimes those conversations can provide a harsh reminder of what goes on during a matchday…

Francis said: “I walked in the door when we lost to Watford and my boy said ‘unlucky today daddy, you didn’t score any but Watford scored three’. He easily reminded me within about half an hour of getting home!

“But it’s a funny one really, it’s that balance of not getting too upset at home because that will have a negative effect on your personal life.

“This is a job for us. This is a business and while we are here, and training in and around the team, you have to work as hard as you can to get out of the situation.

“But I think it is important for the lads - sometimes it’s good to switch off and spend time with your family.

“My boy is football mad now. He will probably be talking about a game when I get back – he’s only five years old but it’s good.”

So, with promotion to the Premier League secured and a fifth straight campaign in the division now in progress – how does stepping out at Wembley for Cherries in the FA Cup in front of his family sound to club stalwart Francis?

“We would like a cup run,” he said, ahead of tonight’s fourth round home clash with Arsenal (8pm).

“The manager does say it every year and I know sometimes the fans think we put out a weakened team in cup games.

“It’s not necessarily weaker. I just think sometimes you have a lot of players who haven’t had game time – that’s the perfect time to do it in the cup.

“It’s a very important game for us and a cup run is really important for the football club.

“It’s an exciting game for us and we have to build momentum now.”