CHERRIES football operations director Ted Sutton has highlighted the importance of the club's football in the community set-up.

Sutton heaped praise on the man who oversees the busy section, Steve Cuss, and emphasised the quality of the work being done behind the scenes, which often goes unnoticed.

"Steve does an absolutely fantastic job," he told the Daily Echo.

"He felt at one time he was a little bit isolated. I've just embraced what he's done because I did it at Everton for so many years.

"Unfortunately unless you shout it from the rooftops you seem to be one of the lowest rungs on the ladder and I don't think people really appreciate the work that goes on.

"They will be the people who come in close contact with the community, who ordinarily wouldn't get the opportunity to engage with the professionals who work at the football club."

The Sport-6 executive plans to help put in place new initiatives to enhance Cuss's department, which recently expanded to become the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust.

And he was keen to stress the point that his role involves far more than just working with the senior side, who continue their League Two campaign at Notts County this afternoon.

Sutton's tasks take in all levels of the Dean Court outfit, from football in the community to the school of excellence, and the youth team to the first team.

He added: "I'm there for the whole football club, not just for the first team.

"And that's what I've tried to explain to people from day one.

"All I want to do is work hard for the two people who've brought me here, and that's Alastair Saverimutto and Paul Baker."