SHAUN Cooper and Tommy Elphick have been confirmed as part of Gary O’Neil’s backroom staff, with the pair permanently stepping up from their roles in the academy.

Cooper, who played alongside O’Neil at Portsmouth, featured 240 times for Cherries, before becoming development squad head coach in 2018.

The versatile player captained Cherries as they completed the great escape in 2009, the side coming back from a 17-point deduction to retain their Football League status.

Elphick is another former Cherries captain, skippering the side to two promotions, including the 2015 Championship success that saw the Dorset club reach the Premier League for the first time.

Leaving the Vitality Stadium after one season in the top-flight with Cherries to join Aston Villa, Elphick retired in 2021 following a two-year stint at Huddersfield.

In September 2021, it was announced that he had returned to the south coast, linking up with Cooper in working with Cherries’ under-21s.

Alongside the promotion of Cooper and Elphick, Cherries favourite Neil Moss has returned to the club as head of goalkeeping, with his addition the final piece of O'Neil's backroom jigsaw.

The Daily Echo understands that their replacements for their now vacant academy roles will be announced in the New Year.