CHERRIES boss Kevin Bond will this week continue his exhaustive search for a proven striker after missing out on a host of possible targets.

Bond, who is desperate to find a replacement for Bristol Rovers-bound Jo Kuffour, must move before the transfer window closes a week today.

Kuffour is expected to join Rovers in a £60,000 deal later this week and probably would have signed already had he not been laid low by flu.

Cherries' plight was highlighted as they mustered a solitary chance of note during their dismal 1-0 defeat by League Two rivals Exeter City on Saturday.

And although Bond drafted in untried Liverpool striker Craig Lindfield ahead of the Dean Court showdown, he also revealed he had received a series of other knock-backs.

Extensive enquiries for several experienced frontmen drew a frustrating blank as Bond's attempts to further bolster his limited striking options proved fruitless.

Among the players to have rejected his advances were Vincent Pericard of Stoke, ex-Sheffield United star Geoff Horsfield and Crystal Palace pair Shefki Kuqi and Dougie Freedman.

Bond was also rebuffed when he asked about the availability of Ben May from Scunthorpe, Coventry's Kevin Kyle, Liam Hatch of Peterborough and Middlesbrough youngster Tom Craddock.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Bond said last night: "I spoke to at least half-a-dozen agents and managers last week and, for whatever reason, we can't get the players or they won't come here. I get the same answer right across the board.

"I would love to be able to say something to please everybody but it's as frustrating for me, the players and everybody else because centre-forwards don't grow on trees."

Asked whether he could put his finger on why players were reluctant to join Cherries, Bond replied: "At the start of every season, everybody wants to have a successful season but success is relative for every club.

"If you're trying to attract a player to Bournemouth this season and you look at the situation we're in, they are probably asking themselves what the incentive is for them to have a successful campaign.

"At this moment in time, staying in the league would probably be a success and ambitious players want more than that. They want to have a good year and to go up so they might look at our situation and think we're not for them.

"The situation was heightened by the fact that we were only able to join the race for strikers very late in pre-season. But it's my job to find players and we will work hard to bring in the right people and to win the games we need to win."

Bond, who dismissed making a move for freed Wycombe striker Leon Knight, confirmed he was still waiting to hear from Swindon and Brentford regarding the possibility of signing either Barry Corr or Alan Connell, respectively.