Bournemouth boss Scott Parker opens up on transfer frustrations following Bristol City defeat

Scott Parker has admitted to feeling frustration over the lack of transfer activity at Bournemouth, but insisted the threadbare club must ‘make the best’ of their current situation.

So far this summer, the Cherries have recruited Ryan Fredericks and Joe Rothwell, but on free transfers, and a number of injuries and departures have left boss Parker short on options. Indeed, he is faced with a particular headache in defence, with the club currently left with just three senior options.

One of them, captain Lloyd Kelly, missed the pre-season friendly defeat against Bristol City with a minor niggle – while Chris Mepham and the inexperienced James Hill featured at the Vitality.

Questioned on his thoughts on the lack of new arrivals, Parker conceded that reinforcements are needed.

"I suppose it is what it is. Of course, it’s frustrating," he told DorsetLive. "You get promoted, and you’d like to develop and start pushing again. At this moment in time, that’s not been the case. Due to circumstances, no real fault of anyone, it’s just the hand that we’ve been dealt at this present moment in time.

"Everyone’s trying to do the best in this situation and trying to get there. Pre-season is a key time to get some real good work in. Every manager would sit here and say they want their new signings in at the end of the last season, and then you can work with them.

"I’ve been in it for a little while now, and that’s not the case. It is what it is at the moment, so we need to work around that and make the best out of that."

Bournemouth suffered their second straight loss during their preparations for the new Premier League campaign, with City's Chris Martin scoring a second-half penalty to hand the visitors the victory.

The hosts