JASON Tindall says Cherries' pursuit of Matt Ritchie in this transfer window is all but over and admitted: "I can't sit here and say I'm not disappointed."

Ritchie had been strongly linked with a return to the south coast from Newcastle United, where he moved to from Cherries in 2016.

However, the north east club have knocked back Cherries' approach today and Ritchie looks set to stay on Tyneside.

"Matt Ritchie’s a player that did extremely well for us during his time here at the football club," said Tindall.

"He’s been a fantastic player for Newcastle since he’s been there and is a player I know would have done so well for us and what he would’ve added to the current group of players that we’ve got with his mentality, his desire and the winning mentality that he’s got.

"He’s a player that can fill in quite a few positions. Unfortunately that one has not got over the line. We’ve got to respect Newcastle for that decision and wish Matty the best for the remainder of the season whilst he’s there. But I can’t sit here and say I’m not disappointed."

Asked if there was any chance the deal could be revived before tonight's 11pm deadline, Tindall added: "I don’t think it’s in our hands now. We’ve done all that we could do and met the criteria that we had to meet. It’s in Newcastle’s hands.

"Matty’s a contracted player to Newcastle, it’s their decision on what they do with their contracted players. Matty’s someone that I’ve liked for some time and we’ve been trying to do it for a while now and unfortunately almost on the last day it got to the point where it can no longer happen, or so we’re being told. Unfortunately that’s where it is.

"Listen, nothing surprises me in football, so I can’t sit here and say it’s never going to happen because with so many things that have happened in my experience in football where things change very quickly. But I’m not hopeful sitting here right now."

Ritchie scored 31 goals in 142 appearances for Cherries between 2013 and 2016, helping the club clinch promotions from League One and the Championship, before becoming a mainstay of the side in the Premier League.

With the quest for Ritchie seemingly over, attention now turns elsewhere with the Daily Echo understanding Cherries are still keen to add to their squad if they can.

"There’s a lot of criteria that’s got to be met first and foremost for players to be able to come here," said Tindall

"It’s such a tough window to do business in, the January window. But if there’s one or two players that if we had the opportunity to try and bring in, then we would look to do so.

"We’re trying to do what we can do in the background. If we can add to the group with players that we feel is going to make a difference and give us something that we haven’t got then we’ll look to do it. But if we can’t and it’s not possible for whatever reason, then the current group of players that we’ve got here, they can have their 100 per cent focus back on Bournemouth.

"The window will be closed, there will be no speculation and I’m sure that will help us moving forward."