CHERRIES’ prospective assistant Inigo Perez is still awaiting a work permit to begin his employment in England.

Andoni Iraola’s number two at Rayo Vallecano, Perez was meant follow the Basque boss across to Vitality Stadium, but the move has been held up by a lack of work permit.

There currently is no major update, with Iraola telling the Daily Echo: “No, no, unfortunately he doesn't have the work permit.

“So until he has it, he cannot be here with us. Trying to help us through that, I talk to him sometimes by phone and that.

“Right now he cannot work with us.”

Aside from Perez, Iraola brought fitness coach Pablo de la Torre with him from Spain.

The rest of the coaching staff features long-serving Cherries, such as Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Neil Moss.

Asked if he would have preferred to have brought more of his own staff across, Iraola replied: “No, it was part of the plan since the beginning. Since when we talked the first time.

“I think a lot of the staff from past season, the idea was to continue.

“And I have to say that I'm really happy with them, with how they are helping me and how they are trying to make everyone better.”