FRUSTRATED Matt Tubbs has issued Cherries boss Paul Groves with an ultimatum: Play me or let me go.

The 28-year-old was signed by former boss Lee Bradbury in January, leaving Crawley Town and penning a three-and-a-half-year deal for a club record fee believed to have been in the region of £800,000.

But the former Salisbury City frontman has been restricted to just one start under Groves this term and was an unused substitute as Cherries notched their first win of the season at Yeovil on Saturday.

Tubbs, who was left out of Groves’s squad completely for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy first round tie at Portsmouth a week ago, told the Echo: “I came here to play football and I’m not at the moment which is very frustrating. I want to be playing and if I am not going to be playing here, then I want to go and play somewhere else.

“I spoke to the manager a few days ago and we went over a few things, but I didn’t get on again against Yeovil.

“We’ve had a few games now and I haven’t been given a chance.”

After returning to Cherries for a third spell in the New Year, Tubbs scored on his ‘debut’ against Exeter before injury curtailed the remainder of his season.

Groves, meanwhile, who took the reins following Bradbury’s departure in March, has opted to use loan signing Lee Barnard, Josh McQuoid and Lewis Grabban up front in recent weeks, with Wes Thomas preferred to Tubbs from the bench at Huish Park on Saturday.

Thomas, though, has found the net just once in 22 appearances, while Cherries have attracted criticism from supporters for their wastefulness in front of goal this season.

Tubbs, who attracted interest from League Two outfit Rotherham during the last transfer window and is understood to be a loan target for old club Crawley, added: “It’s very frustrating. Over the past two seasons, albeit at a lower level, I have scored 59 goals.

“I’m a goalscorer but I am still waiting for my chance and if that doesn’t come along soon, I will have to weigh up my options.

“I’m 28 now, I am in my prime as a striker and I want to be playing games and scoring goals.”

Asked whether a loan spell would be an option, Tubbs added: “It is an option, but it’s out of my hands because I am a Bournemouth player and they call the shots. The ball is in their court.

“Whether I can go on loan depends on all the parties involved but, at this moment in time, I am a Bournemouth player and I will continue to work hard in training and get my head down as I always do.

“But I need to keep my options open and who knows where I will end up.”