AFC Bournemouth defender Simon Francis says club not safe from relegation

Bournemouth defender Simon Francis says the Cherries are still not certain of their place in League One next term.

The Cherries are currently lying 12th in the table, nine points above the relegation zone.

But with six games remaining, Bournemouth must still face promotion-chasing duo Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town.

"I wouldn't say we were safe and it could be quite a tight finish to the season," Francis told BBC Radio Solent.

Bournemouth's remaining four games after the Easter period are against Bury, Colchester, Scunthorpe and Preston.

"There are a lot of teams below us picking up points every week and clambering out of the relegation zone so we better pick up some results," added Francis.

The 27-year-old was brought to the club from Charlton by previous boss Lee Bradbury who was sacked by Bournemouth last month.

And the defender admits he was sorry to see Bradbury go and says he felt a certain amount of responsibility for his departure.

"It was disappointing for me as he did bring me in," he said.

"You feel a certain amount of sympathy for him and you feel in some way like you may have let him down and that it is partly your fault that he got the sack because we weren't getting the results.

"I've just to get my head down and concentrate on the rest of the season."