CHERRIES boss Kevin Bond insists he is keen to keep Shaun Cooper and says he hopes talk of the midfielder joining Crewe is premature.

Cooper, who is one of eight players pondering a new contract offer from Cherries, was first linked with the South Cheshire outfit by the Daily Echo last month.

And the speculation intensified when the Crewe Chronicle reported that Cooper was "set to sign" a two-year deal with the Railwaymen this week.

However, although the paper claimed Cooper was due to sign before the end of the week, Crewe have confirmed that no deal was finalised by close of business last night.

When asked by the Daily Echo whether he thought rumours of Cooper's departure were premature, Bond replied: "I hope so. I hope he's not about to join anybody other than us.

"I'm sure there will be interest for Shaun, as there will be for one or two other players, but we've made him a good offer and I want to keep him."

Isle of Wight-born Cooper, who joined Cherries four years ago, is entitled to leave Dean Court on a free transfer, as are all players over 24 once their contracts expire.

Cooper, 24, displayed his versatility to Cherries by lining up in four different positions last season, both in midfield and at the back.

Bond added: "Shaun is a good footballer, an intelligent player with bags of ability. He can play a number of different positions although I think central midfield is his best.

"It wasn't until the second half of the season that we started to see the best of him. He had a stuttering start and hardly did any pre-season training due to one or two niggling problems.

"He was playing catch-up at the start of the season and only really got going midway through the campaign. He was excellent during the latter part of the year."

Although Cherries' administration prevents Bond from signing any new players due to a transfer embargo, he is still hoping to re-sign out-of-contract players Darren Anderton, Marvin Bartley, Lee Bradbury, Ryan Garry, Josh Gowling, Danny Hollands and Brett Pitman.

And while Bradbury and Pitman are both close to penning new contracts, talks are continuing with the remaining six players.

Bond said: "We're talking almost on a daily basis to their advisors. We would like to have had all these things sorted out by now but I understand why some of them are dwelling. We can't move any faster than the players are allowing us to."

Meanwhile, Bond is relishing the prospect of seeing Cherries pit their wits against FA Cup runners-up Cardiff City in the first round of the Carling Cup. The Bluebirds will visit Dean Court on Tuesday, August 12.

Bond said: "It's a good draw for us. They are a good side, they play good football and it'll be a good fixture for us. It's nice to have a home draw as well. It will be a tough game for us but it should be a good game as well."