CHERRIES development squad head coach Alan Connell labelled next season’s team as “a really exciting group”, sharing his excitement at the prospect of working with them.

The Dorset club confirmed this afternoon that 11 members of the under-18s side will make the step up to the development squad.

Captain Lewis Brown will be joined by fellow midfielders Kian Tydeman, Toure Williams, and Ben Winterburn, whilst three defenders in the form of Archie Harris, Finn Tonks, and Max Kinsey-Wellings will also join the older age group.

Baylin Johnson, Michael Dacosta Gonzalez, Daniel Adu-Adjei and recent addition Balraj Singh round off those graduating from the under-18s.

They join Owen Bevan, Noa Boutin, Dominic Sadi, Ferdinand Okoh, Jack Wadham, Euan Pollock, and Billy Terrell in forming the nucleus of next season’s team.

The second-year scholars stepping up from the under-18s will also sign their first professional deals with Cherries.

Speaking about the graduations, Connell told afcb.co.uk: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve managed to secure the services of our best young talent – both the players that were already with the development squad and now the under-18s that are coming up.

“For everyone to commit their futures to the club is really pleasing and is something that we’re really keen on continuing as we enter a new and exciting era for the club.

“To keep hold of these players is great news for everybody and we’ve taken forward a lot of the under-18s because it’s a group that we believe in, and they’ve had success. There are some real stand-out individuals in there.

“We’ll be a younger group next season for sure, with the majority of the squad being under 19, but I think that’s exciting both for the present and the future.

“It’s a really exciting group that I’m really looking forward to working with again next season. We can’t wait to get going with pre-season.”