Bournemouth name Lee Bradbury as caretaker manager

Bradbury will prepare Bournemouth's team for Tuesday's game at Rochdale

Bournemouth have named experienced forward Lee Bradbury as caretaker manager, with club captain Steve Fletcher as his assistant.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe confirmed after Friday's 2-1 defeat at Colchester that he and assistant Jason Tindall would be taking over at Burnley.

Bradbury, 35, joined the Cherries in 2007 and has made over 500 League appearances for 11 clubs.

He and Fletcher will prepare the squad for Tuesday's game at Rochdale.

The last seven days at Dean Court have been dominated by speculation over the managerial position.

606: DEBATE Nothing needs to be changed, Bradbury will do a good job for us! Good appointment AFCBcherries1

Howe, who kept the Cherries in the Football League after his appointment in December 2008 before leading them to promotion last season, admitted after last Saturday's 3-0 win over Plymouth that he had "a very difficult decision" to make after being targeted by Crystal Palace and Charlton.

He announced on Tuesday that he was staying at Dean Court - but less than 48 hours later, Bournemouth received an official approach from Burnley for Howe's services.

Tindall and Howe were in the stands at Turf Moor on Saturday

After taking charge of his 100th - and last - Cherries game on Friday, Howe was at Turf Moor on Saturday and he and Tindall are expected to be formally unveiled by the Clarets on Monday.

However, with Bournemouth fourth in League One and still battling for promotion, chairman Eddie Mitchell has turned to two of his senior professionals to take temporary charge.

Bradbury recently revealed that he had been named as manager of his native Isle of Wight for this summer's Island Games.

He will be assisted by fans' favourite Fletcher, who is the club's all-time record appearance maker, and had a stand named after him at Dean Court last season.