CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell defended the appointment of Paul Groves and then urged disgruntled supporters to trust him and back the new boss.

The announcement of Groves as Lee Bradbury’s permanent successor yesterday sparked a backlash from some sections of the Cherries fan-base.

Groves was trending on Twitter – above Rebekah Brooks who was being quizzed at the Leveson Inquiry – as members of the Dean Court faithful took to the internet to express their opinions.

A number of Cherries fans had called for a big-name manager with more experience after a string of rumoured contenders, including Glenn Hoddle and two former Premier League stars, had been linked with the vacancy.

But Mitchell asked them to unite behind Groves and assistant boss Shaun Brooks.

The Cherries chief told the Daily Echo: “We have all got our opinions but they have got to entrust their club in me because I am the chairman and I have to make those decisions.

“They are not easy decisions and I do listen to comments from lots of people, but I have to do what I think is right for the club.

“I have known Shaun longer than Paul and he is not a ‘yes man’.

“I think you will soon get to know that Paul is not a ‘yes man’ either.”

Mitchell continued: “If I listened to all the fans, we would have about 1,000 managers. There have been so many names bandied around.

“We are never going to please everybody but Paul and Shaun will be doing their best for the club and I am sure the fans will do their best for the club. That is to get behind the person who is out there leading the team.”

Groves and Brooks, who have been promoted from their previous roles as Cherries youth team manager and head of youth, respectively, signed two-year contracts following an eight-game stint in caretaker charge since Bradbury’s exit.

Mitchell said: “They are both relatively young, both determined and both footballing men. Paul had experience in the Premier League for four years so he has plenty of experience to call on.

“It didn’t really take long for my business partner and I to realise we already had on board what we needed to take us further.”

Mitchell revealed there had been “quite a lot” of interest in the vacancy but when asked about Hoddle, he said: “I wouldn’t want to comment on other people. But there have been lots of household names.”

Mitchell said the situation regarding ex-assistant Russ Wilcox, who was placed on gardening leave following Bradbury’s exit, remained “ongoing”. He declined to comment further on the topic.

He also confirmed a final decision on who would succeed Brooks and Groves as chiefs of the club’s youth department had yet to be made.