Fans 'very disappointed' at decision to move season ticketspublished at 08:42 GMT 27 February
08:42 GMT 27 February
Media caption,
Bournemouth season ticket holders have been speaking to BBC Radio Solent about being told they will have to move seats to accommodate for extra hospitality seating as part of a stadium extension plan.
Those who it will affect from next season have been contacted over email in recent days, and it is reported to be around 600 season ticket holders.
Bournemouth supporter Joe Tyler told BBC Radio Solent: "We are, naturally, very disappointed with the decision. It doesn't just affect me, it's my dad and my uncle too.
"Our seats are in block 20 so we are very close to the half-way line and have a great perspective of the pitch.
"We recognise what the board have done for the club and none of it comes cheaply, but ultimately this shouldn't come at the expense of existing and loyal supporters."
Stadium expansion 'feels long overdue'published at 12:55 GMT 25 February
12:55 GMT 25 February
Mark Mitchener BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, AFC Bournemouth
After a month spent mainly on the road, with three away games and only one home match since 24 January, Bournemouth's supporters are ready to enjoy home comforts – with three of their next four games at Vitality Stadium, including two in the next week against Sunderland and Brentford.
However, for those looking further ahead, Monday's club announcement relating to the redevelopment of Vitality Stadium has put some flesh on the bones of how the ground is likely to look next season.
After the enabling developments were approved by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council in January, work has begun at the southern end of the ground.
The full planning application has now been submitted to BCP Council and is at the consultation phase, with the council planning committee due to rule on it in May.
That will leave a reasonably tight timescale for work (if approved) to take place over the summer, when the current Ted MacDougall Stand – surely one of the longest-standing "temporary" stands in football, having been in place since 2013 – will be removed and work on a new South Stand begun.
The club now plans to construct the lower tier of the new South Stand, and fill in two of the corners, before the start of next season, which will initially increase capacity by over 1,500 seats, and should still allow the largest attendance of Dean Court's current configuration, since the pitch was turned through 90 degrees in 2001.
So 2026-27 will be a "work in progress" season as construction of the upper tier of the South Stand – which will eventually dwarf the other stands in height and size – will continue during the campaign.
Then, if all goes to plan, further work in the close season in 2027 will fill in the other two corners, which coupled with extensions to the North and East Stands, and the completion of the South, will raise capacity to more than 20,000.
While Dean Court's record attendance looks likely, for now, to remain the 28,799 fans who somehow packed into the old ground for the 1957 FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, expansion of the current ground feels long overdue as Bournemouth prepare for what will be their 10th season in the Premier League.
The Cherries Trust has encouraged fans to comment on the plans, which can be found on the BCP Council website, external under the planning application P/25/04900/FUL.
Gossip: Barcelona eye Senesipublished at 08:29 GMT 25 February
08:29 GMT 25 February
Barcelona are currently the favourites to sign Bournemouth's Argentina centre-back Marcos Senesi, 28, on a free transfer this summer. (Football Insider), external
Bournemouth are growing increasingly confident that they can persuade head coach Andoni Iraola to commit his future to the club with a new contract. (Teamtalk), external
The 'club legend' who improves season on seasonpublished at 07:46 GMT 24 February
07:46 GMT 24 February
Tom Jordan Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth may have acquired one of the league's youngest squads, but it's also worth remembering one of the older mainstays who is still at the club.
Adam Smith has recently signed an extension at the same club he initially joined all the way back in 2010! Back then, he was a loan signing from Tottenham who was raw and full of promise, but no-one could have envisaged the club legend he'd turn out to be.
Smith was signed on a permanent transfer in the Championship season of 2014 under then manager Eddie Howe, and he was soon to be part of one of the club's most memorable squads.
Part of the Cherries' first ever promotion to the Premier League, I very much doubt Smithy saw this coming when he was scrapping on loan back in League One. However, under the guidance of Simon Francis, Smith flourished in the top flight and arguably improved season on season into a top Premier League full-back.
Initially it was felt that Adam was predominantly an offensive right-back who could comfortably move into a wide midfield position, but more recently he's managed to adapt his game with his years of experience. The youthful, fiery and energetic wing-back has superbly adapted to now being the wise, consistent, leader of this current thriving Cherries group - very impressive indeed.
A plethora of competition at right-back has come in to challenge Smithy during his Bournemouth career, but he's always been the one relied upon, and the one who just "gets it", and for that, the Bournemouth faithful will always be thankful.
With 419 appearances for the Cherries, 250 of them coming in the Premier League, Adam Smith truly is an AFC Bournemouth legend.
And there's still time for some more memorable moments to come!
Chris: Simply not good enough. The result means we now probably have to find at least two unexpected wins. I'm not giving up but we will need to find some unlikely wins from somewhere.
James: If you can't win, make sure you don't lose. With other teams faltering, I felt West Ham have enough to stay up if they can just get the wins over the line and build on this clean sheet.
Vigsy: Two points dropped after a dominant first half coughed up no goals. An open second half but profligate shooting by both sides resulted in the stalemate. Cherries will be far happier with the point than us.
Adam: A clean sheet is great - they've been few and far between but we really needed the win with our run-in.
Bournemouth fans
Paul: Substandard performance despite having almost 60% possession. Never really looked like scoring apart from Rayan's sublime solo effort. Take the point and move on.
Terry: Under par. We always seem to be lethargic after a break, but an away point is a good point. Rayan was SO unlucky, but MOTD said nothing as usual - if that had been Erling Haaland, Hugo Ekitike or Cole Palmer it would have been shown a million times. Onwards and upwards. In AFCB we have faith.
Bob: As usual, a poor performance against a team placed third from the bottom of the league. Indicates a 14th or 15th-placed finish because no improvement can be expected from this XI.
Analysis: Cherries happy to play it safepublished at 22:39 GMT 21 February
22:39 GMT 21 February
Ben Collins BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
With West Ham's biggest threat coming from set-pieces, Bournemouth were content to control possession throughout while threatening on the break.
With manager Andoni Iraola watching from the stands as he served a touchline ban, they offered little going forward in the first half.
Rayan and Alex Scott had tame long-range efforts before Rayan almost became the first teenager to register a goal involvement in each of their first four Premier League appearances.
The new signing broke forward just after the hour mark after a West Ham free-kick was cleared, running from his own half before his left-foot strike from the edge of the box glanced off the woodwork.
The 19-year-old Brazilian had another effort blocked having taken too long to get his shot away, while Marcos Senesi, Scott and Junior Kroupi tested home goalkeeper Mads Hermansen late on.
A late Bournemouth winner would have been harsh on the Hammers, and the Cherries will settle for a point and a seventh straight league game unbeaten, with two home games and a trip to second-bottom Burnley coming up.
West Ham 0-0 Bournemouth: What Iraola saidpublished at 21:18 GMT 21 February
21:18 GMT 21 February
Media caption,
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to Sky Sports: "We had good individual performances. At least we have not conceded any goals and we will go with a point.
"The first half I was quite disappointed. We were not being aggressive on the ball and didn't look like a danger to them. The second half was more open. We got into good situations, it was a better game but first half was poor for us.
"It is about winning your duels, wanting the ball and attacking the spaces and we improved in the second half.
"We have recovered a bit more depth and especially in the second half this was very good. Away from home this is a difficult stadium to come to. They put you under pressure straight away and we have to value this point.
"We have 38 points and I hope next to get past 40 and then we will see where we are when we arrive."
Did you know?
With four each, only Newcastle and Crystal Palace have had more 0-0 draws than Bournemouth in the Premier League this season, with the Cherries' three their joint-most in a top-flight campaign. They also had three in 2015-16 and 2019-20.
West Ham v Bournemouth: Team newspublished at 16:35 GMT 21 February
16:35 GMT 21 February
Image source, BBC Sport
West Ham have made one change to the starting XI they had for their last Premier League game, with Soungoutou Magassa replacing Freddie Potts in the side that drew 1-1 at home to Manchester United.
West Ham XI: Mads Hermansen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Axel Disasi, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tomas Soucek, Mateus Fernandes, Soungoutou Magassa, Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, Valentin Castellanos.
Subs: Kyle Walker-Peters, Max Kilman, Callum Wilson, Adama Traore, Jean-Clair Todibo, Ollie Scarles, Mohamadou Kante, Ezra Mayers, Alphonse Areola.
Bournemouth have made two changes to the side which won 2-1 at Everton last time out, with Tyler Adams and Junior Kroupi coming in for Ryan Christie and Alex Toth.
Bournemouth XI: Djordje Petrovic, James Hill, Adrien Truffert, Marcos Senesi, Alex Jimenez, Alex Scott, Amine Adli, Rayan, Evanilson, Tyler Adams, Junior Kroupi.
Subs: David Brooks, Ryan Christie, Adam Smith, Marcus Tavernier, Bafode Diakite, Enes Unal, Alex Toth, Veljko Milosavljevic, Christos Mandas.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to Aston Villa v Leeds" or "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Bournemouth", for instance.
West Ham United v Bournemouth: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:36 GMT 20 February
19:36 GMT 20 February
Two of the league's form teams meet at London Stadium on Saturday (17:30 GMT), albeit with West Ham United and Bournemouth experiencing rather different campaigns.
The Hammers, in 17th place, have won three of their last five in the league, drawing with Manchester United last time out. The 10 points they've earned in that timeframe is as many as they acquired in their previous 15 matches.
Hammers can flee the bottom three
Significantly, this round of fixtures presents them with the chance to move out of the drop zone for the first time since early December, should they win and Nottingham Forest lose to Liverpool (depending on goal difference).
Crysencio Summerville continued his sparkling form with an extra-time winner in a tense FA Cup fourth round win over Burton Albion, taking him to six goals in his last seven games.
Nuno Espirito Santo made 10 changes for that clash against League One opposition but had to call upon Summerville from the bench to put the tie to bed, perhaps indicative of his side's reliance on a small pool of goalscorers.
Even in the Premier League the Irons have been using the full extent of their squad in a bid to find a winning formula. Following a busy winter transfer window, they've used more different players than any other side in the league this season, with 32, yet only Everton have had fewer different goalscorers than West Ham's nine.
Cherries blossoming
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last six league games, with four wins and two draws moving them from 15th to ninth since the turn of the year.
The Cherries' first-ever Premier League win came against West Ham at Upton Park in August 2015. In recent years though, they're winless in their last 10 meetings with the Hammers in all competitions – the last five in the league have all been draws.
Andoni Iraola's side came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 last week, with Brazilian forward Rayan on the scoresheet for the second successive game. Add to that an assist on his debut and the 19-year-old is aiming to become the first teenager in the history of the competition to record goal involvements in each of his first four games.
That superb second half turnaround at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was typical of the Cherries' resilient attitude this season. Only Aston Villa and Sunderland have rescued more points from losing positions in the top-flight this season than Bournemouth's 14.
In Rayan and Junior Kroupi – the top scorer left at the club after Antoine Semenyo's move to Manchester City – Bournemouth boast an exciting young forward line, but it's one of their former heroes they'll need to watch out for on Saturday, even if he is no longer first choice in east London.
Callum Wilson, who hit 67 goals in his six seasons in Dorset, netted twice in a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium in November. He has a particular fondness for this fixture, scoring in it nine times (seven for Bournemouth, two for West Ham).
Sutton's predictions: West Ham v Bournemouthpublished at 18:55 GMT 20 February
18:55 GMT 20 February
West Ham are still in the bottom three but they have shown they are up for the fight in the past few weeks.
Yes, they conceded a late equaliser against Manchester United in their last league game, but they keep on picking up points and that must have given them belief they can stay up.
Bournemouth are on a good run now too, with three wins in their past four league games but, along with Brighton, they are the Premier League's draw specialists this season - both have had 10 so far.
It finished 2-2 when these two sides met on the south coast in November and I can see the points being shared this time too.
'I'm in the form of my life' - Scottpublished at 18:34 GMT 20 February
18:34 GMT 20 February
Media caption,
Alex Scott: 'I'm in the form of my life'
England midfielder Alex Scott told BBC Radio Solent that he is in the "form of my life".
"I think all season I have been at a decent level. I started pretty strong, I think there were a few games where my levels dropped, but I'm back to my best. I'm definitely in the form of my life," he said.
"I feel really good and I can probably play 90 minutes most weeks now. Defensively I have definitely improved and I'm trying to make the box to score goals and create chances a lot more."
The 22-year-old also credits his midfield team-mates in pushing him to improve.
"It's a tough role to do, any of those three positions in midfield," he said.
"It's very demanding physically in games, the way we press and jump the opposition.
"It's good to have fresh legs on the bench. For me personally, it's good to have such competition because it helps me to stay on my A game."
Bournemouth play away to West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Iraola on injuries latest, touchline ban and facing West Hampublished at 12:11 GMT 20 February
12:11 GMT 20 February
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham at the London Stadium (kick-off 17:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Iraola confirmed there were no new injury concerns for this weekend, with David Brooks and Tyler Adams "ready to go", while Marcus Tavernier returned to training and they will make a late call on his availability.
On playing more away games against teams in the bottom half of the table in this second half of the season: "We are getting better results, we are getting some wins and I hope we can continue. But I think this one is especially difficult considering the circumstances where West Ham are and the run that they've had recently."
The Bournemouth boss feels the Hammers have been "one of the best teams lately in the Premier League" and his side need to "be ready to start strong" to prevent West Ham from scoring first, as they have done in recent games.
After receiving a touchline ban for his third yellow card of the season, Iraola has been discussing how he plans to help from the stands: "I don't wear the thing on the ear and I'm close to the analyst. Normally I go with Ryan [Dawes], and he's the one communicating everything. But it's true that we sometimes, with the subs, we use just text messages. So we see everything clear."
He does not yet know where he will be sitting in the stadium and is a "little bit worried" about the time it might take to get to the dressing room at half time, so they will just have to "see what the best option is".
On Marcos Senesi's future after the defender didn't move in the January transfer window: "I think the situation is still open. I think it's not easy. We have references from other seasons and sometimes they decide to re-sign, sometimes not, but I don't think Marcos has taken any decision."
Gossip: Senesi seeks Barcelona movepublished at 08:03 GMT 19 February
08:03 GMT 19 February
Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi wants to join Barcelona this summer after deciding he will not sign a new contract with the Cherries. (Teamtalk, external)
Fresh Cherries set for 'kinder' finishpublished at 10:59 GMT 18 February
10:59 GMT 18 February
Mark Mitchener BBC Sport Senior Journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth's absence from the FA Cup fourth round will have allowed them a rare opportunity to fully recharge the batteries between games.
Aside from the standard international breaks in September, October and November when half the squad will have flown off around the world to represent their countries, the 10 clear days between their win at Everton on Tuesday, 10 February and the upcoming trip to West Ham this Saturday, 21 February, has been Bournemouth's longest gap between fixtures so far in 2025-26.
That win at Hill Dickinson Stadium is also the Cherries' final midweek away trip of the season, with their only remaining midweek game at home to Brentford on 3 March forming part of a Saturday-Tuesday home double against Sunderland and the Bees that immediately precedes another 10-day gap during which the FA Cup fifth round will be contested.
Head coach Andoni Iraola's high-energy, hard-running playing style demands a lot of his players physically, and as fan writer Sam Davis pointed out on these pages earlier this week, playing fewer games than some of their mid-table rivals in the final three months of the season could be to Bournemouth's advantage in terms of player workload.
For the travelling fans, particularly those hardy souls who braved the rain at Everton last week, the fixture schedule for the last half-dozen away games feels a little kinder towards the end of the campaign.
Cherries followers, by the nature of geography, will rack up more miles on the motorways and the rail network than those of any other Premier League team this season.
However, of their last six away matches, Newcastle and Burnley are the only two of the eight northernmost grounds yet to be visited by Iraola's side, with three of their last six away games in London before a final-day journey to Nottingham Forest – who have had more managers than home league wins in 2025-26.
Can Cherries dare to European dream again?published at 08:06 GMT 17 February
08:06 GMT 17 February
Sam Davis Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth failed to gain any real momentum in either domestic cup competition this season, a real blow for Andoni Iraola, who has previously loved an exciting cup run.
Having said that, it's worth pondering whether having fewer games than many of their league rivals might actually work in the Cherries' favour.
Andoni's men are ninth in the Premier League and only three points off seventh.
It's incredibly tight, but dreams of European football for the first time on the south coast are again being whispered.
Only 10 points separates fifth-placed Chelsea and 12th-placed Fulham, so the fine margins of having fewer games could end up being just what Bournemouth need.
Plus, in those eight spots, six of the teams are still in other competitions, whether that be domestically, in Europe or even both.
With injuries always inevitably around the corner with three months of the season to go, depth and management of your squad will always be paramount and the Cherries will have fewer games than most to manoeuvre around that.
Bournemouth have had their fair share of absentees this campaign but have recently restored Tyler Adams, Ryan Christie and David Brooks to their matchday squad.
There are also reports that both Marcus Tavernier and Ben Gannon-Doak are not far away from being back available for the team, so the options at his disposal are starting to look that bit more appetising for Andoni.
Therefore, a strong finish to the season is certainly a realistic expectation as it stands.
The club had a flirt with those European spots last season and many felt that an injury pile-up and lack of squad depth really hampered chances.
Could this time around be different?
Maybe, just maybe, its OK for the Cherries faithful to dream again!
'Too sensible and you won't get the big gigs' - has punditry gone too far?published at 06:19 GMT 13 February
06:19 GMT 13 February
Image source, Getty Images
Recently, Liverpool and the Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said former players-turned-pundits have a responsibility when discussing the performances of the current generation of footballers.
He believes they can stray into "clickbait" and have a possible impact on players' mental health.
On Thursday's episode of the More than the Score podcast, former Scotland international Pat Nevin and chief sports editor for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Marcel van der Kraan join John Bennett to discuss and analyse the modern world of punditry and the impact it can have on players and managers alike.
"As a player you do tend to take it to heart, especially when it feels a little personal," said Nevin.
"Generally, it isn't personal and the pundit is just having their opinion and we all kind of know where the lines are. But, the lines have been jumped over more often in recent years and I think Van Dijk is right about that.
"Because of the clickbait, it is so much easier to get more likes, views and work if you're a little bit more extreme. Ex-players aren't stupid and they know that. If you are too sensible and sit on the fence you won't get the big gigs.
"You have a dichotomy. Most ex-players would like to be balanced but they know if they are too balanced and sensible they won't be there next week.
"My criticism would always be constructive criticism which is explained. One-dimensional labeling of players should never happen. Sometimes if a big name says something enough it becomes accepted wisdom."
Van der Kraan added: "There are two different kinds of pundits; those who need to be on every week and those who are genuinely focused on what is right and what players should do.
"For Van Dijk, after so many years enough is enough.
"It all started after he came into the Netherlands team and became a big player at Liverpool. The first ex-player to really criticise him was Marco van Basten, saying he was not a leader. Van Dijk was biting his lip after every match because it became a bit of a stigma.
"Eventually it filtered to England and every time he had a bad game it became an open nerve."
'I can properly fall in love with him now' - fans on Jimenezpublished at 15:11 GMT 12 February
15:11 GMT 12 February
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Alex Jimenez meeting the appearance threshold required to make his loan from AC Milan permanent.
Here are some of your comments:
Robbie: Alex Jimenez has come on leaps and bounds since arriving as a talented but wild player in the summer. We have been looking for a successor to Adam Smith for a few years and everyone must be delighted we have one. One of the most exciting players at the club, from full-back! Well happy this is done.
Miguel: A great fit for the Cherries - Jimenez is quick, intelligent and committed. The board have excelled themselves again with their scouting. As for our manager Andoni Iraola, leave him alone, he is not for sale.
Steve: What an absolute gift of a signing. Our recruitment team of Pinto and Francis unearthed an absolute gem in Alex Jimenez and the Spaniard has gone from strength to strength putting in some sensational performances. Nailed on for Spanish caps and a big move in years to come. We will enjoy him while we can!
Lewis: Up there already for POTS for me, passion and class. Very happy for this be made permanent, true talent.
Harry: Great news that this has now become permanent and I can properly fall in love with him now he's not a loan player. Has a little to learn still on decision-making sometimes but my god he has passion. Love the way he interacts with the fans and gets so driven when on the pitch. Reminds me of a lad you'd play Sunday league with who was a bit of a loose cannon, amazingly talented and never stopped running.
Jimenez here to stay - have your saypublished at 09:04 GMT 12 February
09:04 GMT 12 February
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth right-back Alex Jimenez has met the appearance threshold required to make his loan from AC Milan permanent.
The defender, who has quickly become a fan favourite on the south coast, has now featured in more than half of the club's competitive fixtures triggering a deal that runs until 2031.
Bournemouth's president of football operations Tiago Pinto said: "Alex is a young talent, who has already demonstrated his energy and commitment to the squad during these opening months with the club.
"He has incredible pedigree, having begun his development at both Real Madrid and AC Milan. We're delighted to have him as part of our project, which began last summer and now continues after the obligation was triggered."
Cherries, fans how do you feel about Jimenez's move becoming permanent? And just how good has he been for you so far?
