With pre-season rapidly approaching, manager Paul Groves is keen to keen to keep hold of Shaun Cooper who is shortly out of contract at Dean Court, and would be entitled to walk for nothing should he not to sign a new deal.
Groves is quoted in the Bournemouth Evening Echo as saying about Cooper: "Shaun has got good qualities in terms of his attributes. People recognise he can see a pass and play a pass. He is an intelligent lad and he conducts himself very well so he has got lots of good qualities. Everything like that is taken into consideration when you speak to a player. We have made an offer and Shaun is deliberating over it and he will speak to us in due course when he is ready. I think one of Shaun’s strengths is his ability to be able to play in different positions and that is probably down to his intelligence as a footballer. If we are looking at Shaun and what we consider to be his best position, we see him as a central midfield player. His character, his quality on the ball, his intelligence and the fact he knows the club all bode well for Shaun. Like anything, both parties have to agree to that contract and that is where we are at this moment in time".
For his part, Cooper is quoted as saying: "I would love to stay and am hoping something can be worked out. The new offer is for less than the option so that is something I need to think about. There is no doubt the club is going places. The owners have certainly shown their intent by investing heavily in the squad. I just hope something can be sorted and I can be a part of the future".