Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Rookie boss will draw on experience of Venables, Redknapp, Ball and Fenwick
ROOKIE Lee Bradbury plans to draw on his experience of some of the country's leading bosses but is vowing to be his own man in the Cherries hot-seat. Bradbury was put in caretaker charge by chairman Eddie Mitchell last weekend in the wake of Eddie Howe's departure to Burnley. The 35-year-old is new to life in the technical area but believes he has played for no fewer than 25 managers during his distinguished professional career a list that includes such high profile figures as Tottenham Hotspur chief Harry Redknapp and former England supremo Terry Venables. He says he will take snippets from some of his old employers but wants to forge his own style as he attempts to successfully make the transition from player to manager. Bradbury told the Echo: You take bits and leave a lot of things. I think all you can do is be your own person. I'm honest and hard working and that's how I got to be playing at 35. You have got to do it right and it's the same with Steve Fletcher. He's 38 now and still doing it. It takes a certain character to do that to want it that much and be hungry. I will try to instil that in the players as well. Discussing his former managers, Bradbury said: One of my favourites was Terry Fenwick because he gave me my chance. His work ethic was work hard, play hard, and he got good results out of the lads. Harry Redknapp for his man-management skills, Alan Ball for his character and Terry Venables as well. He was brilliant on the training ground and he had so many good ideas. The lads really responded to him and he was good fun as well. Asked if he would take bits from those bosses or try to be himself, Bradbury said: I will try to be myself but you do compare a little bit and ask yourself what they would have done. But I don't think you can take the shoes and just try to be someone else it wouldn't work at all. Bradbury, who is being assisted by Cherries legend Steve Fletcher, is ready to put in the hours required for his new role. He added: It's been hard work getting home at 4.30am after Tuesday night and then leaving the house at 7.30am. It's a sacrifice you have got to make. I want to go into games knowing that Fletch and I have prepared as much as we can and left nothing out. We can't afford to make any mistakes and that is why we are putting in a lot more hours. As a player, you don't really appreciate what goes on behind the scenes until you have to do it yourself.