End of an era as Eddie Howe leaves Bournemouth

Eddie Howe will enjoy some quality time with his family after his lengthy association with Bournemouth came to an end on Saturday.

The 42-year-old has departed the club by mutual consent a week after relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

After more than 450 games in charge of the south-coast side across two spells, Howe will no longer be in the post at the Vitality Stadium.

Victory at Everton on the final day could not keep Bournemouth in the top flight and the journey under their former defender, which first started with the Cherries fighting to stay in the Football League in 2008, is over.

In a 1,209-word open letter to the supporters, Howe said: "I now join you as a Bournemouth supporter and will be willing the club on in what I am sure will be a successful future.

The decision was stressed to be a joint one and the conclusion of Howe's second tenure with the Cherries means it is the start of a new era for the club.

When he took over in December 2008, Bournemouth were in the League Two relegation zone but under their rookie manager they survived and achieved promotion the following term.

Howe left to join Burnley in 2011 but returned a year later and more success followed before top flight status was secured for the first time in April 2015.

After making more than 300 appearances for the Cherries during his playing career too, the ex-defender has been synonymous with the club for more than two decades.

Chief executive Neill Blake admitted the decision to part company with Howe had not been taken lightly and was only finalised after days of discussions.

"Eddie Howe is synonymous with this football club, both as a player and a manager, and that will never change," Blake said.

"He is quite simply an AFC Bournemouth legend, having helped transform the identity and history of the club.

"Myself, our owner Maxim Demin and the board's gratitude and appreciation for Eddie's achievements cannot and will never be underestimated.