CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell says Cherries are likely to turn their attentions to an out-of-work boss in their search for Paul Groves’s replacement.

Burnley’s Eddie Howe and MK Dons boss Karl Robinson are both believed to be high on Cherries’ wish-list to fill the Goldsands Stadium hot-seat.

But Mitchell today played down suggestions Cherries were looking at candidates currently in employment and hinted an appointment could be made as early as Thursday.

Mitchell’s latest comments on the Cherries vacancy could point to former Dean Court striker Steve Cotterill – who is a 3-1 shot with bookmakers.

Cherries chief Mitchell told the club’s official website: “There are lots of people out there who are looking at the job and have shown a desire to come and work at Bournemouth, but it has to suit our budget and it has to suit our expectations of where we want to go.

“The likelihood is that we will pursue the best possibility of somebody that is between jobs rather than employed.

“Even last night, there were applications made to me and again they were recognised names, so there are still people coming in.

“We have got to do our best to find the right person while we have got this break in jobs.”

Cherries’ player of the year in 1994, Cotterill still lives locally and has vast experience in management since starting out with Sligo Rovers.

In an online article published last Friday, BBC Sport suggested it was “unlikely” Cotterill would take the Cherries job.

However, he could fit the bill if Cherries opt for experience as his CV boasts spells in the Championship and lower divisions.

The former Cheltenham Town, Stoke City, Burnley, Notts County, Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest boss is known to be a strict disciplinarian, an attribute Cherries captain Miles Addison suggested the Dorset club needed.

Out of work since his Forest exit, his background with Cherries could also make him a popular appointment among supporters. Cotterill scored 15 goals in 45 games for Cherries.

When contacted by the Daily Echo last week, the 48-year-old politely declined to comment on speculation linking him with Cherries.

Ex-Coventry City manager Andy Thorn in understood to have applied for the role, with other out-of-work bosses Glenn Hoddle, Paul Ince, Alan Curbishley, Sean Dyche, Lawrie Sanchez and Gary Waddock among a host of names linked.

Mitchell added: “We want to settle it as soon as possible but we don’t want to pick the wrong person.

“You would like to think we would have an answer this week or certainly early next week, but we don’t want to go any further into the season without having a settled manager.

“I have got several meetings planned this week, up until Thursday night and, hopefully by then, we might be 70 or 80 per cent there, or maybe even 100 per cent.”

Despite Mitchell’s comments, Burnley’s former Cherries manager Howe remains a hot favourite to succeed Groves, who was relieved of his duties on Wednesday.

Howe, who was first linked with the post when the Daily Echo reported that he was understood to have emerged as the club’s preferred choice, is odds-on with bookmakers and still believed to be Cherries' top target.

MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman yesterday told the Echo that Cherries had not lodged an official approach for Robinson.