BOSS Jason Tindall hinted at a role for former skipper Simon Francis at Cherries and said: “It will be great to get him back involved in some capacity.”

The Dorset club announced last month the full-back would not be returning in a playing position this season, with midfielder Andrew Surman also not being offered a new deal.

It had been suggested Francis could return in another capacity with the club.

Asked whether there had been an update on that situation, Tindall said: “That would be for Simon to announce that, himself.

“But in the background, things are moving forward.

“Franno has been a great servant to the football club. It will be great to get him back involved in some capacity.

“(If) that’s obviously an area Simon wants to come back in I’m sure that would be made aware to everybody when that happens, and when Simon decides in terms of to make that public.”

Defender Francis played a key role in the successes of the club’s recent history, making 324 appearances, helping them to two promotions and captaining the side for four years in the Premier League before his contract expired in July.