NEW boss Scott Parker is a “brilliant acquisition” for Cherries, according to former midfielder and current Weymouth manager Brian Stock.

Stock and Parker both enjoyed hugely successful careers in central midfield, although they never shared a pitch together in league or cup action.

Both men are early in their management careers, with Parker having experienced promotion and relegation with Fulham and Stock guiding Weymouth to 18th in the National League last season.

And Stock, who spent six seasons at Cherries between 1999 and 2006, rates the former England international highly.

He told Echosport: “What I really love is how methodical he is in his interviews, he’s very well thought of.

“I think that’s an absolutely brilliant acquisition for Bournemouth to have him at the club.”

Stock also felt there was a certain inevitability about Cherries choosing a long-term manager without a past Cherries connection.

“When you look at the amount of success the club has had, I think that was always going to happen,” he said.

“When a new manager comes in, especially at the start of the season, you want your own players, staff that you know.

“When you have a manager that comes in during a season, that’s always a tricky one, because you have to run with what you’ve got and make one or two acquisitions.

“It’s an opportunity for Bournemouth to almost start from scratch and they look like they’ve got the right man.

“I believe it’s a great appointment. It’s probably the best time a manager can take over at a football club.”

Asked why he believes the timing is ideal, Stock added: “He’s there from day one, he’s drilling those messages.

“His first message to the players is that pre-season is going to be tough – I like that.

“He’s drilled that home to the players. It’s similar to myself. Everyone knows how important it is to be fit.”