FORMER Cherries midfielder Brian Stock has called time on his playing career to take up a role in the club's coaching team.

The current Havant & Waterlooville captain will retire in the new year after the National League game against Barrow on January 5.

Stock spent six years with Cherries before joining Preston North End in 2006.

The 36-year-old turned down a full-time coaching role with the Dorset club to prolong his playing career in May this year.

Stock told the Hawks official website: “It's a massive decision, one that wasn’t easy to make.

“I had to look a little bit more long term, I’m coming up to 37 on Christmas Eve and although I’ve had a relatively good career and had a really good time with Havant, it’s hard to say that I’m going to hang the boots up and go into the next chapter of my career.

“I’ve taken up an opportunity at AFC Bournemouth, which I turned down to have my time in the Conference with Havant, I felt as if it was the right thing to do and only time will tell if it’s the right decision."

The former Wales international has his own academy and has a wealth of experience coaching part-time in Cherries’ ID Centres.