Who Is O'Driscoll?

Sean O'Driscoll was appointed as manager at Dean Court in the first month of the 2000/2001 season, with the experienced Mel Machin moving into the position of Director of Football at the club having spent nearly six years in the hot seat.

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Sean had a demanding introduction into management as The Cherries won only once in their first 13 games of the season but seven wins in their next 11 games helped lift them into mid-table.

Formerly a player with Bournemouth, making a total of 511 appearances for the club, Sean began his career at Fulham, where he played for five years before moving to the South Coast. He also earned 3 caps for the Republic of Ireland during his career.

Sean became the club's physio in 1995 whilst still playing 14 times in the 1995/96 season at right-back due to a depleted squad, and was appointed Youth team coach for a short time before being released from the club in the summer.

In his first season in charge, Sean almost guided The Cherries into the Second Division play-offs. Finishing in eighth position in the table, the team missed out by just two points.

The following season saw Bournemouth struggle to reproduce that form however, and they were relegated to Division Three.

As well as having the former Manchester City and Barnsley manager Mel Machin, who invested his own money in the club when it was dangerously close to going under, with him at Dean Court, Sean assisted by player/coach Peter Grant.

O'Driscoll was delighted the following season however, and expressed his joy after the 5-2 Division Three play-off final win over Lincoln in Cardiff.

And their relegation the year before, O'Driscoll was relieved that his team won their first ever play-off final top seal an instant return.