JIM Frevola believes bringing Jay Mellette to Cherries “improved our club dramatically”.

Mellette joined Cherries as director of performance last month, to oversee all player medical and performance management services.

He arrived with more than two decades of experience in the field, working with international athletes and coaches at the likes of Cirque du Soleil, Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Rapids.

Prior to working in sports medicine, Mellette was an active duty member of the United States Air Force.

Discussing the arrival of Mellette, Cherries’ president of business and fellow American Frevola, who worked with him at the Golden Knights, told the Daily Echo: “I know Jay really well.

“Jay is great. He is more football side, which I generally don’t speak to, but because I know him really well, Jay from a medical perspective is a huge win for us.

“I think it elevates us to the top of the Premier League.

“We have now literally one of the best people running our performance side of the medical piece of the business.

“What he did with the Golden Knights was one of the best in the league. He’s got football experience. He’s got high entertainer experience.

“I think we just basically improved our club dramatically with Jay.”