UPBEAT Danny Hollands has urged Cherries' supporters to back the club's players as they bid to overturn the 17-point handicap imposed by the Football League.

The troubled Dorset outfit had their Football League share transferred yesterday after agreeing to the league's terms and conditions, which will see the club pay about £500,000 to their unsecured creditors - the amount offered in their CVA earlier this year - as well as start the season on minus-17.

But despite the daunting prospect of overcoming the deficit, central midfielder Hollands revealed the points sanction would only make the team more determined in their quest to succeed in League Two.

The club's PFA rep Hollands, who heard about the points deduction while distributing season tickets to fans at Dean Court on Thursday evening, remains in confident mood ahead of this afternoon's season opener against Gillingham.

He said: "It's an even bigger game now, to get a good start and get the fans behind us.

"If we can get everyone behind us and get a good start, it will show everyone we'll put up a fight.

"We still believe we can have a successful season and try to make the play-offs or give it as good a go as we can."

The popular former Chelsea reserve team skipper insisted now was not the time for the players to feel sorry for themselves.

"We were a bit shocked because I think we thought we'd get less than Rotherham," Hollands told the Daily Echo.

"All the players assumed it would be 15, so another two is not a massive downer. We're still confident about having a good season "When we knew Rotherham were getting 17, we thought we'd get a bit less. Now it's happened, there's no good moping around, we've just got to look forward to the season.

"It's going to be hard but we're looking forward to the challenge and hope the fans will stick by us. If we stick together hopefully we can have a good season."

He added: "It's not our fault but, as a football club, something has gone wrong somewhere along the line.

"We've got to grit our teeth and try to make the points up. If you let it get on top of you, you will get nowhere.

"I think it will make the players more determined. We had a great team spirit last year and we've still got it this year.

"Two more points is not going to make that much difference and I'm sure the lads will be very determined to have a good year."

Hollands is unavailable for the start of the season and is likely to be sidelined until the middle of September after undergoing knee surgery to cure an injury which prevented him from playing any warm-up fixtures.