FORMER Cherries president Stanley Cohen claims he has had a £3million offer for the ailing club turned down, the Echo can exclusively reveal.

Cohen, along with ex-chairman Abdul Jaffer, held talks with the club's administrator Gerald Krasner at Dean Court yesterday.

And, despite claiming to have walked into the meeting with "a cheque in my pocket" and having the funds confirmed by his accountants, Cohen said he saw his bid rejected because he refused to sign a confidentiality agreement.

When contacted by the Daily Echo yesterday afternoon, Krasner politely declined to comment on the subject.

But 81-year-old Cohen, who lives locally, revealed he and Jaffer were prepared to purchase the struggling League One outfit yesterday.

He said: "I saw Gerald Krasner and I made an offer for the club and he wouldn't take it. He wouldn't show me any papers.

"I confirmed with my accountants that I had the £3million available.

"He wanted me to sign a seven-page document. It was a confidentiality document. I said if you don't do a deal today, I'm off'. He wouldn't take it because I wouldn't sign a confidentiality agreement.

"I said I'm not offering it on the terms you want' and it finished.

"He wouldn't take my money. I've got a witness and he had confirmation from my accountants (Birmingham-based Grant Thornton). They confirmed the money was good and would be met and I had a cheque in my pocket and he wouldn't take it.

"I lost my temper in the end and said forget about it because I'm walking out'.

"I'm not a schoolboy, I'm 81 and still in business and still the chairman of a few (companies). I had the money in my pocket and he wouldn't take it.

"Abdul (Jaffer) and myself between us would have paid £3million. We came with the money, he (Krasner) knew it and wouldn't do the deal."

Cohen, who was one of the club's major creditors ahead of last year's EGM, added: "It was a waste of my time. I had it confirmed that the money was available and he said I had to sign a confidentiality letter - I'd never seen anything like it.

"We were prepared to do the deal yesterday but now I don't want to know. I believe in fate and perhaps it's not for me now.

"I wanted to do the best for the club. I'm a fan and don't want to see it go down.

"I hope they find somebody now but who knows?"