Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Fry backs Eddie for the Premier League
BARRY Fry a founder member of the Eddie Howe fan club is tipping the Cherries boss to manage in the Premier League.[LNB] Fry was one of the first men to recognise Howe's potential when he tried to lure the 32-year-old to Peterborough last season.[LNB] Director of football Fry and chairman Darragh MacAnthony asked Cherries for permission to speak to Howe following Darren Ferguson's departure in November.[LNB] But after weighing up a move from League Two to the Championship, Howe politely declined Posh's advances before thanking Fry for their interest.[LNB] Howe went on to guide Cherries to promotion, while Peterborough who had no fewer than four different managers last season were relegated. The two clubs will do battle in League One at Dean Court tomorrow (3pm).[LNB] Fry told the Daily Echo: We were disappointed at the time. Eddie was one of the names the chairman gave me to try to bring here. We were hoping to speak to him and then agree compensation but he chose not to have an interview. He gave me his reasons privately.[LNB] My chairman is only 34 himself and he always looks out for young, hungry managers and Eddie is definitely one of those. He has done an unbelievable job.[LNB] Despite all the problems Bournemouth were having last season, we both admired the way he just got on with it and didn't moan. He organised the team, had them playing well and achieved the impossible. I'm delighted he carried it on and got them up.[LNB] Ex-Cherries boss Harry Redknapp, speaking to the Daily Echo following Peterborough's interest in Howe last season, said he felt he should remain at Dean Court to learn his trade.[LNB] Who am I to disagree with Harry! laughed Fry. He started at Bournemouth and look at him now he's Tottenham manager and should be England manager.[LNB] Fry added: I started at Dunstable and Barnet and it was a great grounding for me.[LNB] I call the first few years the hungry years'. Being at Bournemouth for the hungry years will really stand Eddie in good stead. He will reap enormous benefits from them when he's with a bigger club later in his career, which there is no doubt he will be.[LNB] He still wants to listen and learn and isn't one of these big-time Charlies who thinks he knows it all. He was a fantastic player whose career was cruelly cut short by injury and, potentially, he can go all the way to the very top and I'm talking about the Premier League.[LNB] Howe, responding to Fry's comments, said: He is one of football's great characters. Whenever people talk about Barry Fry, they have a story to tell about him. The game needs people like him and I think he is good for football.[LNB]
