CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell insists he remains determined to avoid selling any of Cherries’ stars.

Mitchell admitted at the beginning of last month that he expected the vultures to circle Dean Court in a bid to prise players from the south coast club.

But he confirmed last night that Cherries had received no firm close-season bids for any members of Eddie Howe’s promotion-winning team, before reiterating his desire to fend off any potential interest.

Brett Pitman’s goalscoring form last term saw him hit the headlines – with the ace marksman linked with the likes of |Blackpool and Reading, while Peterborough United also showed an interest.

But when asked about player sales and the possibility of Pitman leaving, Mitchell told the Echo: “No – no way.

“Brett is here. I saw him on Tuesday in the corridor and he looks fighting fit and looking forward to the challenge.

“You can dismiss it completely. We want to keep them all.”

Boss Howe has bolstered his squad with six new additions during the summer and Mitchell suggested that some of Cherries’ players could be given the opportunity to boost their first-team experience by going out on loan to other clubs.

He added: “We’re looking to get a few of them out on loan, but that would only be natural because I think we’ll have a squad of 22 or thereabouts.

“So to get one or two playing football on a Saturday for somebody else will keep them up to scratch.

“But other than that, that’s as far as it goes.”