Fletch glad to stand up and deliver

STEVE FLETCHER’S reward for saving Bournemouth from oblivion in his playing days was to have a stand named after him.

Now Eddie Howe is banking on the Cherries legend turned coach (above) to help pull off another relegation Great Escape.

Fletcher was a key part of Bournemouth recovering from being docked 17 points to avoid dropping out of the Football League in 2009 when they were on the verge of going bust.

After last weekend’s crunch win at home to drop rivals Villa, Howe tasked his ex team-mate with giving a motivational speech to his players.

Manager Howe, whose side travel to Sheffield United today, said: “Fletch was always the speaker in huddles at the end of the game.

“This was something we did in our Great Escape season when Fletch was brought back to the club. He was a big catalyst behind the feeling that we had to stay in the league. He knew the importance of that situation.

“I let him speak in the huddles when he was playing and it was something, he was very good at. He inspired me in the different things he said.

“I thought it would be nice to go back in time a little bit and get him to speak to the players in a very similar situation when we are fighting relegation. I sprung it on him and he only had a couple of seconds to compose himself but he spoke very well. I think it is good you have got people that care so much about the club.

“Fletch and other staff members are absolutely crucial in these moments.

“He is always a motivational speaker, every day he is doing stuff. I have been in a lot of situations where you don’t have that feeling, that attachment to the club. People will still be professional and work but won’t go the extra mile. We have a team of coaches, staff members that go the extra mile.”

If Fletcher is the Cherries leader off the pitch, Howe says goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has emerged as one of his key men on it. Ramsdale, 21 returns to Bramall Lane for the first time since joining Bournemouth from the Blades for a £800,000 in 2017.

Howe said: “Aaron has been hugely important and his importance is probably growing week by week. It was a big challenge for a young player at the start of the season to step in goal and earn the shirt, to be our No.1.

“I have seen real growth in him in recent weeks, a real leader developing in the ranks.”

KELVIN THOMAS handed Chris Wilder his big break giving him the manager’s job at National League Oxford United in 2008 – and isn’t surprised at the

success the Blades boss has enjoyed. Wilder had honed his trade at Alfreton and then Halifax and it didn’t take long for Thomas to realise the

former full-back was destined for a higher stage.

Thomas (above) said: “His man-management is exceptional. What he gets out of his players is second to none. All of his promotions, barring maybe coming out of League One with Sheffield would have been done without having the league’s biggest budget. “Chris has always been very driven, very competitive, even in fivea-sides. He has the stubborn streak that makes people successful. “When I did the interview at Oxford with the late Jim Smith we selected him was because he had had success and was just 41. “His success came with Halifax in a difficult situation financially. We weren’t overly secure financially so that was an advantage.

“Chris was very detailed, very forward thinking.”

Wilder took Oxford back into the Football League, then saved Northampton from relegation before taking them

up from League Two in 2016.

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