Dropped Tardif in search for new club

CHRIS TARDIF is looking for a new club after Bournemouth signed former Southampton goalkeeper Neil Moss. Tardif was dropped for Saturday's Division Three match against Wrexham and he has admitted that his future at Dean Court looks very bleak.

'Neil signing is a blow for me,' said the former Vale Rec. and Star Trophy goalkeeper.

Tardif is on a season-long loan from Portsmouth, but he could now leave Bournemouth before the end of the campaign.

'I asked him whether they would let me go if I found another club and he said that the club won't stand in my way whatever my decision.

'I've got my agent to put my name around now. I'd rather be playing than just sitting on the bench with nothing happening in the long term here.'

Moss, a lifelong Bournemouth fan who spent three months on loan at the club earlier this season, was snapped up after being released by Southampton last week. Tardif was not overly surprised by his arrival.

'The manager spoke to me last week and told me that he'd been approached by Neil Moss' agent. I always knew that Neil wasn't going to stay at Southampton and he's got a settled home life in Bournemouth.

'There was always a doubt in my mind that he would be back at Bournemouth.'

Tardif has now been replaced as the club's number one goalkeeper, despite a fine run of form in the first team.

'I've played the last few games and I felt I'd done quite well. But I've been dropped.

'I spoke to Sean about it and he said that the club couldn't afford to bring in a new goalkeeper and then not play him, but I think that's a bit of an excuse because I think the team should be picked only on merit.'

Moss said that he was looking forward to competing with Tardif and Gareth Stewart for a place in the first team.

'They've both been unlucky with injuries, but I have a great deal of respect for them and thoroughly enjoy working with them,' said Moss.

'Now it sets up an interesting challenge to see who will grab that first-team shirt.'

Tardif has started 14 games for the Cherries this season, but did not convince O'Driscoll that he was the long-term solution to the club's well-documented goalkeeping crisis.