Stock: Cherries on the up

Former Bournemouth midfield Brian Stock believes the club are well equipped to achieve promotion to the Championship.

Stock, a graduate of the Bournemouth centre of excellence, made 172 appearances in a Cherries shirt before joining Preston in 2006. Eddie Howe's side are currently battling it out with another of Stock's former clubs, Doncaster, at the summit of League One, and the 31-year-old is relishing the prospect of playing both sides for current club Burnley next season. "Everyone was waiting for them (Bournemouth) to lose their first game but they never did! They kept on winning and winning, and have got themselves into a great position to win promotion," he told the club's official website. "If I'm being honest I think he (Howe) felt that there was a sleeping giant here. The difference in the club and how far it's come, it's literally all geared up for promotion. "I don't watch a lot of football, but from what I have seen this year on TV and things that people have said to me, I do think Bournemouth are the best team in the league." He added: "Doncaster have done tremendously well as well, but it's a different type of team to Bournemouth and I think if they were to get promoted they are all geared up to do really well in the Championship. "I have had a really good time at both clubs in regards to success and enjoyment, and I really do hope they both do it."