CHAIRMAN Peter Phillips has heaped praise on Joe Roach following the successful graduation of James Coutts and James Rowe from the club's youth ranks.

The two 18-year-old midfielders have both been awarded their first professional contracts - 12-month deals - after impressing Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll.

Coutts and Rowe, who were fast-tracked into the first-team environment a year ago, both made appearances for O'Driscoll's side on a non-contract basis last season.

Phillips told the Daily Echo: "I think Joe Roach has done a fantastic job in rebuilding our youth system having had it closed down.

"In three years, I think he's made huge progress and we've now got a lot of very good youngsters on our books who are coming through.

"It's the way the club needs to be run. We need to be looking to bring our own players though and I think the future in that respect is quite exciting."

Coutts and Rowe were the only two second years to be kept on, while the other 11 were all told they were not being offered terms on Friday, although their names will be circulated to other clubs.

Roach told the club website: "In any development programme, you have to progress and lift the requirements that each player needs to become a professional player.

"It was felt that we need to look deeper within the current first years and assess the capabilities and potential of those players who have a stronger chance of success.

"Unfortunately, after much deliberation, if was felt that we couldn't offer the remaining second years any extension within the club.

"The commitment by players and parents has to be commended. The players have been a delight to work with over the past two years and we will do the best we can to support them in their football careers and beyond.

"In three years, the youth programme has progressed stage by stage and, therefore, the demands have increased accordingly."

Meanwhile, Phillips had nothing to report on the contract front from the weekend regarding the 12 first-team players whose existing deals are due to expire at the end of next month. Speaking to the Daily Echo last night, the chairman said he expected to see some developments next week, although he was not prepared to divulge whether all the players had been offered new deals.

He said: "The situation is that Sean has sat them down and talked to them all after talking to me and we should get the first feedback from them next week."

The 12 players are: Karl Broadhurst, Marcus Browning, Alan Connell, Wade Elliott, Steve Fletcher, Shaun Maher, Garreth O'Connor, Steve Purches, Dani Rodrigues, Gareth Stewart, Jason Tindall and Neil Young.