Cherries picked!

FRANKIE BUNN . . . impressive record at Huddersfield

ANTHONY White has left a second vacancy within Athletic's backroom staff, after the goalkeeping coach accepted a job in the Premier League with Bournemouth.

The 24-year-old, who also took on duties as fitness coach with Athletic, will leave at the end of next month when his contract expires to fulfil a new role at the Goldsands Stadium.

He follows manager John Sheridan out of the exit door at SportsDirect.com Park, after he departed Athletic last Friday in order to become the new manager of Notts County in Sky Bet League Two.

White, who gets married this week, will become assistant goalkeeping coach to Neil Moss with the Cherries. He will also be Bournemouth's goalkeeping specific strength and conditioning coach in a newly created role.

It brings to an end a two-and-a-half year spell with Athletic for White, leaving behind a legacy of a sports science department and two talented young goalkeepers in Joel Coleman ­- revealed as a target for Huddersfield in the national media yesterday ­- and Chris Renshaw, a youth team star offered professional terms for 2016-17.

"Lee Johnson was great for me, having faith to bring me in originally," said White, himself a former Athletic youth team player before moving into coaching at a young age, in a process which will see him among the first batch of candidates to complete a UEFA 'A' License goalkeeping coach qualification with the FA this summer.

'IDOL'

"Tony Philliskirk did so much for me since the age of 15 and really is something of an idol.

"I also need to thank Simon Corney for sticking by me, through five different managers.

"Neil Joy has been brilliant with me, Tanya Blakey has been my 'football mum' after my own mother sadly passed away, and right through the catering staff and people like maintenance man Frank Daniel it is a family club."

Meanwhile, Frank Bunn has been linked with a move to become Athletic's new manager in Sheridan's place.

Bunn (53), who has been passed over for the top job previously at Athletic, has gained a strong reputation during his time at Huddersfield Town where he guided the under-21s to victory in the Professional Development League Two play-offs this season.

The ex-Athletic striker, formerly as assistant to Steve Eyre at Rochdale, is currently on holiday in Dubai, but a source with close knowledge both of Athletic and his work at Huddersfield told the Chronicle he is a strong candidate.

"He would be good and would do well," the source said.

ATHLETIC will face Millwall again in Sky Bet League One next season, after the Lions were beaten 3-1 in yesterday's League One play-off final by Barnsley.