Andoni Iraola - Tommy Elphick ready to be a manager

Iraola said he jokes with Elphick and fellow assistant Shaun Cooper that they have plenty to live up to with his previous assistant Inigo Perez guiding Rayo Vallecano to the Conference League final.

Perez was due to come to England and Bournemouth to be Iraola’s assistant when he first joined, but he was prevented from doing so due to being denied a work permit.

Asked about Elphick’s links to managerial roles, Iraola said: “Tommy Elphick is more than ready to be a manager, I have no doubts.

“He has been very good for me. I was very lucky when I arrived here because we had the problem with Iñigo with the work permit.

“With Tommy and Shaun, I felt very well assisted always. I could decide because the club gave me the opportunity to take someone else apart from Iñigo, and I decided we didn't need it because they were very good and they've been very good for me.

“And if Tommy decides to go and start managing, for me, he is more than ready. And the same way that Shaun is more than ready.

“I have no doubts about their level. And I also sometimes joke with them, no, I had a lot of assistants doing very, very well as managers, so they have a little bit of pressure.

“I hope they can also follow these routes.”