Despite being linked with numerous clubs last season, Brett Pitman is going nowhere, according to Eddie Mitchell.
The Cherries chairman is quoted in the Bournemouth Evening Echo as saying: "Brett is here. I saw him on Tuesday in the corridor and he looks fighting fit and looking forward to the challenge. You can dismiss it completely. We want to keep them all. We’re looking to get a few of them out on loan, but that would only be natural because I think we’ll have a squad of 22 or thereabouts. So to get one or two playing football on a Saturday for somebody else will keep them up to scratch. But other than that, that’s as far as it goes".
For his part, Pitman is quoted as saying: "Although there is going to be more competition for places, if I play well like I did last season then I would fully expect to be in the starting line-up. And, like everybody else, if I don’t perform, I won’t. It was probably the worst-kept secret in Bournemouth that Steve Lovell was coming. I think we had known since last pre-season that he would be. Michael Symes has been here on loan before so it is good that we all know each other. I’m sure that whichever pair the manager chooses will do well. It’s not about individuals, it’s about the team. You can see Steve Lovell has played at the top level. He is quick and maybe a little bit different to what we have already got. He will be an asset. Michael might be a little bit taller than me but he scored some great goals for Accrington last season and is no mug with his feet. I’m sure he will be a great signing as well".