Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Eddie was first choice with Palace
CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has described Eddie Howe as a fantastic guy after admitting the Cherries boss had been their number one target. Howe was offered the manager's position at Selhurst Park after impressing Parish and the Eagles board during a lengthy interview at the end of last week. And although it is understood Howe was on the verge of accepting on Tuesday, a last-minute hitch saw him have a change of heart and decide to remain at Dean Court. Howe is also believed to have had a six-hour interview with Charlton, while the 33-year-old was also being linked with a vacancy at Championship outfit Burnley. Palace subsequently appointed caretaker manager Dougie Freedman as the club's new boss and co-chairman Parish said: Probably, at the back of our mind, we wanted a younger approach and somebody who worked in a modern way. We wanted someone who had played the game until fairly recently. It's no secret we were interested in Eddie I'm not going to suddenly pretend we didn't want him. He is very much in the same vein as Dougie but has got a couple of years' more experience. We looked on that favourably and it maybe just tipped the balance. We talked to Eddie and we liked him I think he's a fantastic guy. We spoke to him and his assistant but they decided to stay at Bournemouth and I'm genuinely pleased for them and their fans. I wish them all the best. Now I want to concentrate on Palace. We've got somebody very much in the same vein. Dougie hasn't got a couple of years' experience but he has a bit more knowledge of the Championship.