BOSS Lee Bradbury has leapt to the defence of the Cherries board and insists they have always given him their full backing.

Bradbury’s comments come in the wake of chief scout Des Taylor accusing the club of lacking ambition.

Taylor fired the parting shot when he announced his intention to quit earlier this week – although the club subsequently refused to accept his resignation.

His observations prompted an angry response from chairman Eddie Mitchell who claimed Taylor had wanted to leave to reunite with former boss Eddie Howe at Burnley.

Manager Bradbury, appointed by Mitchell following Howe’s departure in January, told the Daily Echo: “I think the club is very ambitious.

“You have only got to look around the place at the number of improvements being made. From little things to the car park and the dressing rooms. We are also having a gymnasium fitted out.

“We have been allowed to bring in three new backroom staff during pre-season. We have also brought in three new players and seen three leave.

“I have always been supported by the chairman and the board. If ever I want somebody, they have always tried to support me. Of course there are restrictions, there are on every manager. But I certainly don’t feel we lack ambition.”

Bradbury has been given the green light to sign former South-end team-mates Darryl Flahavan and Adam Barrett together with AFC Wimbledon’s Steven Gregory. Cherries have also agreed terms with Charlton for Simon Francis, with Bradbury due to continue talks with the defender over personal terms.

“We have been working hard to get in the right people,” said Bradbury. “We have got a list of possible targets and have been monitoring them over a long period of time.

“It is about bringing in the right players to fit into the squad. We don’t want to rush things just to please people and I would rather take an extra week or two and bring in the right ones.”

Mitchell, who confirmed the club had rejected a £200,000 bid from Crystal Palace for Danny Ings, said: “Since I have been at this club, both with Eddie Howe and Lee, I have never told them they could not buy a player. Every time Eddie came to me, I obliged him and, so far, it has been the same with Lee.

“I have shown them our budgets and discussed what we are trying to do in the long term but have never said they can’t do this or that.

“To have taken this club from where it was when we arrived to where it is now has not happened through a lack of ambition.”