PETER Phillips insists Cherries "will not stand in any player's way" if an offer from a higher division club is tabled - after he responded to rumours of interest in John Spicer.

Fears have been raised among Cherries fans at the prospect of losing several key men during the close season - particularly with 12 players out of contract.

But even some of those players who are not out of contract this summer, including Spicer, are coveted by Championship clubs and Phillips admits there is little the club can do if offers come in, even though he is keen to keep the squad together.

In an interview on BBC Radio Solent, Phillips said: "One of the conditions when we signed John was that if a Championship club came in for him, we wouldn't stand in his way.

"Obviously there's got to be an acceptable compensation package if that's the case but John's an ambitious young man, although we'd like him to stay."

While cynics were suggesting it could be a case of 'softening the blow' at the prospect of losing the former Arsenal man, the straight-talking chairman was honest enough to admit the same rules applied for all of the squad.

Phillips told the Daily Echo: "There is nothing to read behind it (the interview).

"But it is true of all of our players really. We try to be an ethical club and the same would be true whether it was Wade Elliott, Garreth O'Connor, Steve Fletcher or John Spicer. If there is interest in a club from a higher level then we would always tell the player.

"As long as we could negotiate a reasonable fee, we would never stand in a player's way. Players know that when they sign for us.

"It is more of an ethical thing really. If a Championship club comes along who are interested in him, we will not deny him that opportunity."

Phillips has been true to his word in the past as the departure of former skipper Carl Fletcher proved.

Phillips said: "It was true of Carl Fletcher. He signed an extra year for us but there was an unwritten agreement. So when West Ham came along, he was given the opportunity. That is the way we want to be to all of our staff - players and non players."

Spicer signed, following an initial loan spell on an 18-month contract in December, after Cherries and Arsenal agreed a £10,000 fee.

But while the chairman understandably chose not to discuss specific clauses in the player's contract, he insists any of the Championship clubs reportedly interested in his services would need to find a substantial transfer fee to take him. It is understood that Spicer is being courted by at least two clubs in the north west of England.

Phillips said: "If a club came in they would not get him for £10,000 - it is rather more than that.

"But we have to remember that we did remarkably well to get a player of John's calibre for only £10,000 from Arsenal.

"We have done very well out of him and if he was to go tomorrow, he would still have been a very good signing for us.

"But he is a Bournemouth player, still has another year on his contract and if anybody wanted him, they would have to pay a transfer fee."

Meanwhile, the Cherries squad were due to meet boss Sean O'Driscoll at Dean Court yesterday ahead of the impending bout of contract negotiations.

The club have also confirmed that midfielder Brian Stock is not among the players whose current contract is due to expire in June, as they previously intimated in a list provided to the Daily Echo earlier this week.

However, it is believed Stock is in the process of negotiating an improved deal.

Meanwhile, non-contract trio James Coutts, James Rowe and Kevin Scriven are also waiting to discover whether they will be kept on.