FORMER Cherries boss Tony Pulis believes those that hired Gary O’Neil should also fear for their jobs if the head coach is sacked.

O’Neil has come under heavy fire in recent weeks during Cherries’ winless streak that now stretches to eight games since his permanent appointment in November.

Pulis began his management career at Cherries, as well as handing O’Neil first professional debut whilst Portsmouth boss.

The Welshman reached the Premier League with Stoke in what was his seventh job as a manager.

Despite having over a decade of experience managing in the lower reaches, Pulis detailed how he brought in former England captain Gerry Francis to boost his authority.

He told BBC Radio Solent: “As soon as I became a Premier League manager, quite a few years ago now, first thing I went to do was go and get Gerry Francis.

“Now Gerry had played and captained England, one of the youngest captains of England, played loads of Premier League (First Division) games.

“Managed QPR, managed Tottenham – great experience in the Premier League. Gerry used to come in two days a week, do a little bit, have a look around. He was the fresh voice for me, if I needed to cover something.

“But he had experience.

“David Kemp worked at Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, clubs that again have been in the Premiership. Older than me – both were older than me, they were wiser and were more experienced than me at that level. I gained so much from their experience, and looking at Nathan (Jones) and Gary (O’Neil), I don’t know what their staff is like, or what it is not.

“I’ve finished, I’ve had my go – I’ve had a fabulous career in that respect, a very, very lucky boy. They (Jones and O’Neil) need people at times when they’re in the firing line, they need people to sit them down and talk to them.

“Point them in the right direction to get out of that trouble. Gary probably needs the same.”

Pulis then went on to label O’Neil as “naïve”, before also questioning those who appointed him in the first place.

“Gary’s got to get on with it,” he restarted.

“He’s a great lad, I gave him his debut when he was only 16. 

“He knows the game. You look at the games he’s managed, he’s probably a little bit naïve. But, who ever appointed him, they’ve got to stick with him and try and guide him through.

“If Gary goes, the people that appointed him and made those massive decisions, they should be looking over their shoulder, and not thinking ‘oh, we’re looking at the next one to come in’.

“The owner, the chairman he should be looking at them and thinking ‘they’ve selected this’.

“It’s important they understand that Gary is not only trying to keep things going for himself and the football club, but also for doing it for (themselves), because (they) picked him and backed him.”