AFC Bournemouth
Scott Parker has said AFC Bournemouth and its supporters will unite as a football club to give David Brooks the strength and support he needs.
The Cherries head coach was speaking after the announcement on Wednesday that the Wales international had been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Brooks will begin treatment next week, with Parker giving the latest news on the midfielder and his situation.
"It's been a very tough week, firstly for David and his family. It's devastating news in terms of his diagnosis and where his health is currently sitting," he said.
"For the football club, his team-mates, every member of staff and the fans, I would echo those words as well, it's been very difficult for all of us.
"Currently, the main focus for those of us being around him is putting in support mechanisms, showing him the strength and support that he's going to need in these months coming up.
"He's a liked and loved member of the team and, speaking with his team-mates, I see that very clearly. I've been here for 16 weeks and have have got to know David, but not like some of these boys who have been with him for many years.
"There's real hurt and also what's jumping out at me is a group of people, like all of us, that want to support him and help him through this next stage of his life.
"He'll go and start his treatment next week and the hierarchy at this football club are putting in support mechanisms for David and his family.
"His team-mates will be showing the support he's going to need and, from the fans as well, we'll unite together around David and give him the strength he needs to go along with his own strengths because he's a strong boy.
"I have no doubt that he'll be back out with us doing what he does best and what he loves doing."
Brooks has made 90 appearances for the Cherries since signing from Sheffield United in the summer on 2018, with Parker speaking about the positive of the football family getting behind the 24-year-old following the announcement.
He said: "We have one focus now and that is that we're right behind him – and if there's one great thing with football it's that we can unite, no matter what colours we wear and which team we support.
"Whether you like someone or not because they play for an opposition team, with football it unites people and David's feeling that and he's going to need to feel that during this next period.
"The prognosis, where it sits and the general feeling around it, is one of being very positive. I say that understanding the dynamics of what David's currently going through, David knows where he is, he knows the fight he has in front of him but I have no doubt he comes out of this.
"He'll then be in a position where we're once again watching him out on this field amongst his team-mates and he's that bright life of the party guy and we also see his quality which we've become used to seeing."
Parker also spoke about also ensuring Brooks' Cherries team-mates and the staff at the club are looked after as they process the news.
"For some of these guys, they've been with David for some time and it's hit them very hard like it's hit us all," he explained.
"Now it's down to myself and my staff in terms of understanding the different dynamics of what we've got in the squad.
"I've sat down with a large part of the group and see a group of men who are not downbeat but are looking at what they can do and how can they help and that's exactly what I would expect.
"This news comes and sometimes in life you realise there's a bit more to what we live in – where the hustle and bustle of football with three points here or a bad performance there seems like everything.
"This brings you down a little bit with everything with understanding that there's a lot more to it and this is exactly where we are.
"This group are doing all they can to make sure that Brooksy is looking on at us and he feels a part of what this great club will be and he feels that support, even though he's not going to be directly with us."
