Source: FOOTYMAD
Cherries Sign Three
AFC Bournemouth have announced the first new permanent signings to arrive at Dean Court for nearly 18-months. AFC Bournemouth have announced the first new permanent signings to arrive at Dean Court for nearly 18-months. The players to be signed are Steve Lovell, Michael Symes and Marc Pugh after the Football League agreed that the Cherries could strengthen their squad. The signature of Steve Lovell, Eddie Howe's half brother, has much been speculated about, even during the transfer embargo. Michael Symes arrives from Accrington Stanley, having netted 19 times last season. Marc Pugh arrives from Hereford United, having scored 3-times against the Cherries last season. Eddie Mitchell is quoted in the Bournemouth Evening Echo as saying: "We believe we have signed some very good players and Eddie and Jason have done fantastically well to get them. We have got these boys on pretty good terms and I think we have been able to do that because of the type of people Eddie and Jason are and through their achievements last season. As a board, we have managed to create a feelgood factor around the club and I am as positive now as I have ever been since I have been here. These players are joining a club with great leaders in Eddie and Jason and one in a lovely part of the world. That combination encouraged them to come to us on a reasonable wage". Manager Eddie Howe is quoted as saying on Steve Lovell: "He scored a lot of goals in the Scottish Premier League when it was a very strong league. A good number of his goals came against Celtic and Rangers, the top teams. His CV and career are very impressive and, hopefully, he will continue that and do well for us. He is recovering from ankle surgery at the moment and may not be ready for the start of the season but should be back very soon after". On Michael Symes: "He was very impressive for Accrington against us last season and has been excellent every time we have watched him. He is a good size and very mobile. His movement is good and he is very good technically. He will be a threat both aerially and on the floor". Finally on Marc Pugh: "Marc is someone we have liked for a long time and I thought he impressed in both games against us last season. We had him watched many times during the course of the season and he always did well. He is a wide midfield player and can play on either side. He scored 13 goals from midfield and that is an impressive record. We are hopeful he can continue that good form with us. I think there was always going to be interest in him because of how well he did last season. He was eye-catching in a good number of his displays".
