Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Eddie's heart is in this club says Fletch
LEGEND Steve Fletcher insists Eddie Howe's "heart and soul" are with Cherries, but believes that his close friend will eventu¬ally leave Dean Court for a new challenge.[LNB] Cherries on Wednesday con¬firmed Howe and assistant boss Jason Tindall would be staying at the club after the duo spurned the advances of Championship outfit Peterborough United.[LNB] And Fletcher, who Howe brought back to Dorset from Conference side Crawley Town in January, paid tribute to his rookie boss's loyalty.[LNB] The 37-year-old targetman told the Echo: "I'm absolutely delighted Eddie has decided to stay.[LNB] "He could have gone there, got more money and managed at a higher level, but I think he has looked at the bigger picture. Like myself, he's been here for a long time and he probably feels he's got an allegiance to the club.[LNB] "He's an honourable man and he's not the type to jump ship at the first opportunity.[LNB] "For Eddie to leave, he would have to take everything into account.[LNB] "Eddie loves the club as much as I do and he is Bournemouth through and through. It's testa¬ment to Eddie that he didn't go because you see it all the time, not just with managers, but with players too. They think the grass is greener and the majority of the time it isn't.[LNB] "He's a friend and you always want your friends to go on and better themselves and I want that for him.[LNB] "But at this time, I would have been devastated if he'd left. I'm so glad, and I think I say this for all the boys, that he decided to stay on.[LNB] "I'm sure he's flattered that clubs in the Championship are looking at him and thankful to Peterborough for considering him, but I'm just happy he's still here, even though, in the not too distant future, I believe he will be managing at a higher level."[LNB] Fletcher silenced his critics by helping Howe mastermind Cherries' dramatic escape from relegation last term, the Hartlepool-born star lashing home his 100th career league goal against Grimsby to secure the Dorset side's Football League status.[LNB] He added: "I owe Eddie a lot. He resurrected my career and hopefully I've given a little bit back with my part in the club's recent success.[LNB] "If it weren't for Eddie bring¬ing me back from Crawley, I don't know where I'd be today.[LNB] "When I saw he'd been linked with the Peterborough job on Sky Sports, I was straight on the phone to him, not pleading with him not to go, but just to see what was happening.[LNB] "We've seen before what hap¬pens when managers leave, a new man comes in and you're whole world can be turned upside down.[LNB] "Eddie's time will come, but his heart and soul is with Bournemouth and it's tremen¬dous that he has shown this loy¬alty to the club."[LNB]
