KEVIN Bond may have piloted Cherries to within sight of League One safety - but will resist the temptation to return to the cockpit when they take to the skies.

Bond's charges have chosen to let the plane take the strain and are due to fly to Newcastle for their long-haul trip to Carlisle United on Easter Monday.

But boss Bond, who holds a private pilot's licence, says he will not be at the controls when the Cherries party takes off from Southampton.

"Those days are long gone!" said Bond. "I got my licence when I was here as a player and it was a fantastic experience.

"But it's not something I've done recently and I wouldn't want to be at the helm with all those valuable players behind me!"

Cherries will leave Southampton at around 7am for the short flight to Newcastle before taking a coach to a hotel near Brunton Park for their pre-match meal.

Bond added: "We put it to the players a while ago and they said they would rather go on the Monday.

"It can be draining travelling such a long distance on a coach, especially straight after a game.

"We've managed to get a cracking deal with Flybe and the cost differential between flying up on the day and going up on Sunday and staying overnight is negligible. Obviously we've got a contingency plan in case the weather is inclement but hopefully everything should be okay."