WILL he stay or will he go? - Will he be given his cards or will another club come calling?

These are two questions which should be answered over the coming months, if not weeks, as Kevin Bond's future as Cherries boss is crystallised.

Just five weeks into his tenure, Bond's destiny looked bleak and the wisdom of his appointment was the subject of much debate.

With Phil Brown and Andy Hessenthaler viewed as the leading candidates, former Cherries chairman Abdul Jaffer sprung a surprise when he turned to novice Bond.

It is believed there were even one or two raised eyebrows in the Dean Court boardroom, with Bond's lack of experience a major concern among some directors.

Those raised eyebrows soon turned to raised voices as Bond opened his managerial reign with five successive league defeats, a Johnstone's Paint Trophy exit and an FA Cup win over lowly Boston.

And as Cherries hurtled into the bottom four, the alarm bells sounded and the natives became restless. There were calls for Bond's head from some quarters and his days appeared numbered.

A winter of discontent set in and relegation seemed inevitable. Bond was rarely able to select an unchanged side and Cherries looked fit only for the drop.

The patience afforded to previous Cherries managers by the club's long-suffering supporters wore thinner as the defeats continued to mount.

Those were desperate times, and, at the turn of the year, Cherries were one off the bottom and facing oblivion.

Fast forward three months though and the situation is much more optimistic.

And Bond must take his fair share of the credit for Cherries' turnaround, while the old board, and in particular Jaffer, should also be commended.

Seven wins since New Year's Day have given Cherries every chance of avoiding the drop and although it would be foolish to suggest they are out of the woods, the odds are back in their favour.

The upturn in fortunes owes much to Bond. The team is playing with verve, they are exciting to watch and the manager has started to make his mark.

Consistency is still an issue and always will be, as was highlighted at Blackpool and Northamp-ton. But who would have expected Cherries to beat both Millwall and Tranmere with Neil Moss rarely troubled?

Irrespective of whether they stay up or not, the majority of supporters would probably like to see Bond remain in charge next season. The fans seem to have warmed to him and he appears to have won them over.

Bond is understandably diplomatic when discussing his future and says guiding Cherries to safety is his top priority.

And while the club's new owners are still getting their feet under the table, the subject of a new contract for their manager has yet to be raised publicly.

But the way Bond goes about his work cannot have gone unnoticed, both by the Cherries board and other chairmen up and down the country.

His tactical awareness and knowledge of the league are improving, his coaching methods appear to go down well with the players and his contact base is expansive. He is also a media darling.

With the managerial merry-go-round due to crank up again in the summer, Bond must have put himself in the shop window and Cherries would do well to make him an offer he cannot refuse.