Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Fletch rallies support for home start
STEVE Fletcher highlighted the major role the Dean Court faithful could play for Cherries' new management duo and then urged: Give us your backing.[LNB] The Cherries legend is vowing to do everything in his power to continue the club's success after being appointed as player-assistant to caretaker manager Lee Bradbury.[LNB] Tasked with taking over team affairs following Eddie Howe's exit, the pair made a promising start as their side produced a fine performance to earn a 0-0 draw at Rochdale on Tuesday.[LNB] Cherries face another tough test in Bradbury's first home match at the helm when table-topping Brighton travel along the south coast on Saturday.[LNB] A capacity crowd is expected at Dean Court for the visit of the League One leaders and Fletcher is hoping supporters throw their weight behind the new regime as Cherries strive to remain in the promotion mix.[LNB] When asked what he felt each supporter could do for the management team, Fletcher told the Echo: Just give us your backing that's all we need. They are going to play a massive part in how things go.[LNB] It's probably a good thing we've got a huge game against Brighton as our first home game it doesn't get much tougher than that. It will be a great atmosphere here and a fantastic occasion something Bradders and I will probably remember for the rest of our lives.[LNB] Fans want to see the team do well, no more so than Bradders and I. We just want them behind us, as they have been with managers for the 18 or so years I've been here.[LNB] Every time a new management has come in, the supporters have always got behind the team and the staff and that is all we are asking for.[LNB] We will be giving everything we've got and everything we have. I am 100 per cent sure we've got the players behind us.[LNB] Bradbury and Fletcher were initially appointed for three of four games following a meeting with chairman Eddie Mitchell on Saturday afternoon.[LNB] They were asked how they felt about playing and Bradbury, 35, opted to temporarily hang up his boots to concentrate on his new role, while Fletcher was keen to continue playing.[LNB] The 38-year-old frontman, who hailed the unbelievable achievements of Howe and Jason Tindall, has high hopes for the future.[LNB] He added: We both hope we're going to be a successful pairing.[LNB] We are two experienced players. We're a combined age of 73, which isn't a lot in managerial terms but as footballers it is.[LNB] Bradders is the voice and, hopefully, I will have a lot of input. Only time will tell. You can't turn round straight away and say it's going to be fantastic.[LNB] We hope it is (fantastic) between the two of us and if there was anyone I would want to work with, I would have chosen Bradders.[LNB] Interview conducted by Neil Perrett.[LNB]
