Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Blake's planning for the future
AMBITIOUS Jason Blake has laid out his vision for the future after being appointed as Cherries new centre of excellence manager.[LNB] Blake, 32, officially succeeded Derek Old in the role earlier this week and he is enthusiastic about the challenge ahead of him.[LNB] The UEFA-A licence holder is highly regarded by first-team boss Eddie Howe, who made him technical development officer during his time working in the clubs youth department.[LNB] And Blake is hoping to provide Howe with some future star players.[LNB] He told the Echo: The club has got a positive reputation in terms of young lads coming through and my aim is to enhance the good work thats been done previously.[LNB] With Eddie in charge and the fact hes taken an active interest from top to bottom, a lot of things are geared towards his vision of how he wants AFC Bournemouth to play and what he wants an AFC Bournemouth player to look like.[LNB] Weve got to be putting enough good players through to the youth team to progress to the first team.[LNB] Blake, who played non-league football in his native Basingstoke before turning his attentions to coaching, has previously led the clubs under-15s and 16s.[LNB] Asked about the new centre of excellence managers qualities, Howe said: Jason was under-15s coach when I took over the centre of excellence and he was someone I immediately respected and liked.[LNB] He has a good knowledge and he is a very good coach.[LNB] It is so important in that job to have that energy. Its a tough job and requires long hours and it can be a lonely existence.[LNB] But he has all the ingredients, I think, to be a success.[LNB] The youth set-up is the lifeblood of our club and the more players we can bring through will keep the club going.[LNB] Former Cherries star Matt Holmes is set to take over as the clubs technical development officer.[LNB] Old spent eight years with the club and, during that time, helped discover the likes of Sam Vokes, Brett Pitman, Joe Partington and Josh McQuoid, who have all gone on to feature in the senior side.[LNB]
