Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries boss Lee: I won't waste my time over Francis deal
Cherries boss Lee Bradbury is keeping his options open as his painstaking search for a new right-back continues.[LNB] Bradbury drafted in Peter Bore for Cherries' EC Cup semi-final against Glenn Hoddle Academy after his attempts stalled to sign Charlton's Simon Francis.[LNB] Bore, a converted striker, is currently a free agent after turning down fresh terms to extend his stay with hometown club Grimsby.[LNB] However, although the 23-year-old could stay and train with Cherries this week, Bradbury was non-committal about his chances of earning a permanent deal.[LNB] Bore, who has also had pre-season trials with Burton and Walsall, turned in an assured display as Cherries laboured past Hoddle's Academy following a penalty shootout on Saturday.[LNB] I thought he did quite well, said Bradbury. He is athletic, quick and he looked comfortable on the ball. Defensively, I think he needs a little bit of work but we could work on that if it came to it. It was good to see him in a game that was quite competitive in the end.[LNB] Bradbury turned to Bore after his lengthy pursuit of Francis appeared to have bitten the dust at the end of last week.[LNB] And while the two clubs had agreed a fee of around £40,000 for the 26-year-old, Cherries were unable to thrash out personal terms with the player.[LNB] Bradbury, asked last night by the Daily Echo whether the deal was dead, replied: I told him last week that if I didn't hear from him then I would move on to other players. If his agent contacts me saying the deal could go through then I would look at it again.[LNB] But, at the moment, I'm not in a position to keep wasting my time and energy on it. We are at a point where we offered him the best deal we could and it is up to him whether he takes it or not. It would be something he would have to speak to Charlton about.[LNB] Bradbury, who confirmed he had other targets in mind, also said he had not ruled out the possibility of re-signing former loan star Adam Smith, who is also wanted by Charlton. Smith, who is currently on duty with England under-20s at the World Cup, recently signed a new contract with Spurs.[LNB] I have been in contact with a couple of Premier League clubs who are looking to loan out right-backs, said Bradbury. They have got a lot of promise and just need games. There are a couple of irons in the fire but we will have to wait and see. Ideally, I would like to take one permanently because we are looking at loans for other positions.[LNB] I offered Adam a three-year deal and a good one as well. If he wanted to come back on loan then we would definitely look at it. He did well for us last season.[LNB] He knows the lads and the way we like to play and is comfortable with that. It is something we would look at.[LNB]
