CHERRIES have signed the man who had the ball in his hands during the technology blunder that saw the then-Premier League outfit relegated during ‘Project Restart’, but Orjan Nyland has joked “hopefully I can be forgiven.”

Norwegian and Aston Villa goalkeeper Nyland caught a free-kick but fell back over his line during a game against Sheffield United, only for it to be revealed that the Hawk-Eye technology had been ‘occluded’.

Neither the on-pitch referee Michael Oliver nor the VAR manually overturned the goal decision system.

Villa secured a point during that June 17 game – the same margin by which they finished above Cherries and consequently saw the south-coast side relegated.

In the aftermath of the relegation, Cherries even considered taking legal action against the failure to award the key decision.

And now the ‘keeper at the heart of the action is a Cherries player until the end of the 2021-22 season and, speaking to the club website, he admitted: “I know I will probably get a little bit of stick for that.

“Obviously it was one in 9000 games that it happened. My striker pushed me into the goal and I was scrambling looking at the ref, he said play on so that’s what I did.

“The only thing I can offer in return is to get the club back to where it belongs and make up for myself. I’m here, ready to go and hopefully I can be forgiven.”

Bournemouth Echo: Protests were waved away by referee Michael OliverProtests were waved away by referee Michael Oliver

The goalkeeper has been with the club for a short while getting used to surroundings, and watched his new teammates compete in their recent fixture from the stands.

With a long season ahead, Nyland brings promotion knowhow from spells with Villa and Norwich last campaign, knowhow that he insists he wants to impart on the otherwise inexperienced Cherries unit.

He added: “It’s been a pleasure to be here a couple days to get to know the club, players and staff. I’m really happy and delighted to get going.

“It’s a family club, every one works hard for each other. It’s always tough to come here to play against Bournemouth, it’s a pleasure to be a part of that.

“Yes I’ve been a part of it (promotion), I can bring experience, I know what it takes, it’s a long run, it’s a marathon, you just have to do the best you can do along the way.

“Taking it game by game, I know it’s boring that phrase but that’s just how it is.

“I want to be here as a leader. I like to be involved in the build-up, I like to play out the back as well, it suits me the style of play the manager and staff have implemented here.”