BOSS Paul Groves insists he wants to keep Shaun Cooper at Dean Court as he awaits a decision from the long-serving Cherries star.

Groves is hoping for a positive response after offering the cultured utility man a new one-year contract at the end of last season.

Cooper told the Daily Echo a month ago that he intended to keep his options open as he considered the fresh terms.

The 28-year-old’s existing deal officially expires on Saturday but Groves revealed an agreement had still not been reached.

Cooper, who has spent the past seven seasons with Cherries, would be entitled to a free transfer should he choose not to put pen to paper.

But Groves is hoping to secure Cooper’s services as he sees the versatile performer as an intelligent and talented player.

The Cherries manager told the Daily Echo: “Shaun has got good qualities in terms of his attributes.

“People recognise he can see a pass and play a pass. He is an intelligent lad and he conducts himself very well so he has got lots of good qualities.

“Everything like that is taken into consideration when you speak to a player.

“We have made an offer and Shaun is deliberating over it and he will speak to us in due course when he is ready.”

Cooper, who has made 231 appearances for the club since arriving from Portsmouth, has featured as a right-back, centre-half and central midfielder during his time at Dean Court.

Groves added: “I think one of Shaun’s strengths is his ability to be able to play in different positions and that is probably down to his intelligence as a footballer.

“If we are looking at Shaun and what we consider to be his best position, we see him as a central midfield player.

“His character, his quality on the ball, his intelligence and the fact he knows the club all bode well for Shaun.

“Like anything, both parties have to agree to that contract and that is where we are at this moment in time.”

Cooper’s contract had included an option for an automatic one-year extension but as neither he nor the club triggered the clause by the March 31 cut-off, Cherries were obliged to either release him or offer fresh terms.

Having captained Cherries against Scunthorpe and Preston during Groves’s caretaker reign, Cooper was one of three players on the new manager’s retained list.

Speaking to the Daily Echo last month, Cooper said: “I would love to stay and am hoping something can be worked out.

“The new offer is for less than the option so that is something I need to think about.

“There is no doubt the club is going places. The owners have certainly shown their intent by investing heavily in the squad. I just hope something can be sorted and I can be a part of the future.”