SENIOR first-team coach Gary O’Neil is relishing the chance to work at Cherries and insisted: “I still know what it’s like to be in that dressing room recently.”

The former England under-21 international sealed four promotions from the Championship during his illustrious playing career – three of which have come via the play-offs.

O’Neil enjoyed play-off glory with the likes of West Ham, Queens Park Rangers and Norwich – he also won the title in the second tier with Portsmouth in 2003.

Beckenham-born O’Neil only retired from the game in 2019 having finished his career at Bolton Wanderers, before coaching in the under-23s at Liverpool.

He made the move to join up with Jonathan Woodgate’s staff at Vitality Stadium last week.

Asked how much of a boost his experience could give to Cherries’ promotion chasers, O’Neil told afcbTV: “I think that can be of importance.

“Jonathan’s not that old but I still know what it’s like to be in there. I still know what it’s like to be in that dressing room recently.

“If I hadn’t injured my Achilles 18 months or so ago, I’d probably still be playing now. It was just that was the way it was.

“I know how it feels to be sat there, especially in the position they are in trying to get promotion to the Premier League.

“I was fortunate enough to do that four times with different clubs, three times through the play-offs. There will be nothing the lads are going through in the changing room, win lose or draw, that I haven’t already been through.

“Hopefully I can help them with that individually and as a group. The coaching staff here have been fantastic with me, welcomed me, let me get stuck into things already.

“It’s an amazing opportunity, I really appreciate the chance to come and work at another big club and we will be judged at the end of the season by where we finish in the league.”

O’Neil played with Woodgate during the pair’s time at Middlesbrough.

And the 37-year-old is pleased to link up with his former team-mate to start a new challenge.

“He’s a great guy. Woody was a fantastic player – at Middlesbrough he was a leader on the pitch back then,” said O’Neil.

“He did a little bit of work with Liverpool before I was there. We have stayed in touch through the latter stages of our careers when we got separated as players.

“I know Jonathan really well. He’s a good guy and he’s done a very good job since he’s taken over the team.

“I’ve done all my coaching badges. I’ve known I’ve wanted to be a coach and a manager for an extremely long time - known I’ve wanted to be part of a management team.

“To get to come in and work under Jonathan, when he’s done it already at Middlesbrough – he’s got some good experience under him – it’s a really good opportunity for me to continue to learn.

“I feel ready to go and express myself at first-team level and try to help the boys improve and achieve our ultimate goal, which is promotion back to the Premier League.”