CHERRIES star Harry Arter is urging the Dean Court boo-boys to lay off his former team-mate Rhoys Wiggins.

Wiggins upset a section of Cherries supporters after leaving for Charlton following the club’s play-off near-miss two years ago.

At the time, Cherries had finished seven places above Charlton in League One, with fans suggesting his move had been motivated purely by finance.

And although the 25-year-old defender is expected to receive a hostile reception on his return tomorrow, Arter says times have changed since his departure.

Arter told the Daily Echo: “I might not be popular for saying it but supporters probably need to realise that the club wasn’t in the greatest financial position when Rhoys was here.

“Bournemouth was a very different club then to the one it is now. A lot of players worked hard to get a move and he was surrounded by players who were leaving. He worked hard and someone offered him a lot more money and what he felt was a better opportunity at the time.

“Where everyone used to work hard to go to a bigger club and better surroundings, people are now working hard to stay at this club. I feel like I have got a move to a new club because it is so different to the one I first joined.

“I think it would be unfair to criticise Rhoys for moving on. At the time, I don’t think anybody could say that Charlton weren’t a bigger club. Thankfully for us, we have moved with the times and are starting to get on terms with some of the bigger clubs.”