SKIPPER Carl Fletcher admits the strength of Cherries' midfield last term allowed him to prosper at the back.

Fletcher looks set to resume his defensive duties when Cherries visit Port Vale for their Division Two curtain-raiser on Saturday having earned rave reviews following his switch from midfield to the back four early last term.

But the 23-year-old believes he may not have enjoyed such a successful campaign if the men in front of him had not been in such formidable form.

Following his arrival from Gillingham last summer, Marcus Browning became a pivotal cog in Cherries' midfield machine while Garreth O'Connor, Stephen Purches, Brian Stock Wade Elliott and Danny Thomas all enjoyed fruitful stints alongside him.

And Fletcher admits knowing the midfield was so strong was a weight off his mind as he adapted to life in defence.

He said: "The midfielders that came in did a great job and that did take the pressure off me a bit.

"But I had to concentrate on my own game really because it was a new challenge.

"But the midfield was very strong. Marcus arrived at the start of the season and was magnificent and so was Garreth when he came in. We all know what Wade can do and the midfield being so strong won us a lot of games.

"Hopefully they can carry it on next year with Marcus, Garreth, Wade, Purchy, Stocky and Danny I am sure it will happen.

"Knowing that there is that strength in depth in midfield means there is no real need to stick me back in midfield because there is so much quality there doing a job. That can only bode well for the team."

After switching to the back four early in the campaign, Fletcher went on to be crowned the Micky Cave-Daily Echo player-of-the-year before capping a remarkable season by scoring twice in Cherries' 5-2 play-off final defeat of Lincoln.