CHERRIES under-21s assistant manager Mark Molesley believes the construction of a new training complex will be “crucial” in helping the club develop players for the future.

Amended plans were on Thursday unanimously approved by BCP Council to build a multi-million-pound facility on the 57-acre site of the former Canford Magna Golf Club.

Subject to Secretary of State referral, work will begin imminently on the land which Cherries purchased for £3.75million, with its first application for the training ground initially approved in December 2017.

The state-of-the-art centre will include 10 full-sized pitches, an indoor artificial playing surface, medical and sports science facilities and press conference theatre.

Existing building structures on the site have already been demolished, while land levelling of the former golf course is due to commence later this month.

The proposals will see the Cherries first team, development squad, academy and pre-academy training operations move into one location, which is currently not the case.

And Molesley thinks having everyone under one roof will be of massive benefit, with the club also looking to upgrade their academy status.

Asked how important the new training ground development will be for the club, he told the Daily Echo: “I think it’ll be crucial. They’re riding the crest of a wave at the moment.

“The club is buzzing. Everything underneath is buzzing and I think we just need that next step.

“The category status will help us access better facilities, better games programmes and help us hopefully develop the players even faster.

“It gives us a lot more opportunities, a lot better facilities and also it gives the club a little bit more of a legacy, owning its own training ground and having facilities as well which will first and foremost help the first team.

“It will help them continue to grow the players and hopefully that filters down to the rest of the age groups.”

Molesley, along with under-21s boss Shaun Cooper, have helped develop numerous youngsters in the past year with the likes of Mark Travers, Gavin Kilkenny and Nnamdi Ofoborh progressing into the first-team squad.

And the former Cherries midfielder is keen to continue the flow of prospects stepping into Eddie Howe’s squad.

“Our job is can we get some players ready to train with the first team,” said Molesley.

“If they can get in and around the first team then they can get around where the magic happens. You can see how the first-team management transform players.

“If they can get in and around that environment, then who knows? It can be career and life-changing if you can get yourself in and around the first-team’s training regime.

“We’re trying to prepare them the best we can and if called upon, they’re ready to go up and train and get around that.”

Discussing the approved plans, Cherries chief executive Neill Blake said: “I am delighted. It will help continue the club’s progression at the highest level of football, which will in turn have a positive effect on the region as a whole. This is an incredibly exciting time for the club.”