Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Bradders looking forward to keeper battle
CHERRIES boss Lee Bradbury is anticipating a battle royale as the gloves come off in the duel for the number one spot at the Seward Stadium.[LNB] Bradbury knows current first choice Shwan Jalal and new signing Darryl Flahavan will both rise to the challenge during pre-season.[LNB] The pair are expected to share the goalkeeping duties when Cherries open their warm-up campaign against Hamworthy Recreation tonight (6.30pm).[LNB] Flahavan's arrival last month coincided with Jalal revealing talks over a new contract with Cherries had reached an impasse after he rejected two offers.[LNB] And while Jalal told the club the ball is in their court, both Bradbury and chairman Eddie Mitchell have insisted their last offer was also their final one.[LNB] Should he fail to agree a new deal, Jalal would be entitled to a free transfer next summer and Mitchell has already said the club may have to cash in now rather than risk losing him for nothing.[LNB] However, speaking to the Daily Echo last night, Bradbury confirmed the club had yet to receive any enquiries for Jalal.[LNB] Bradbury added: We have tried our best to sort out a contract with him but have not been able to. We have been trying for quite a while but can't reach an agreement, financially. We put the best deal we could to him.[LNB] He is employed by AFC Bournemouth and I know he won't get side-tracked because he is such a good professional.[LNB] Signing Darryl shows we are serious about doing well this season. They are both going to want to play and I have told them the best keeper throughout pre-season will get the jersey.[LNB] Bradbury, meanwhile, said he was still hopeful Cherries could agree a deal with Charlton defender Simon Francis.[LNB] While the two clubs finalised a fee for the 26-year-old last week, talks over the player's personal terms have dragged on.[LNB] Speculation linking Wolves left-back Scott Malone with a loan move to the Seward Stadium intensified after the player had posted a message on Twitter.[LNB] Reports last month suggested the 20-year-old was set to join Cherries for the season, although the story was described as premature by Bradbury.[LNB] However, in a tweet on the social networking site on Sunday, Malone wrote: Off to Ireland for a game Tuesday. Then a trip to the south coast Thursday.[LNB] Malone has also started following Twitter accounts associated with AFC Bournemouth, including the Daily Echo's @Bournemouthecho.[LNB]
