Steady Eddie gets his chance

CARETAKER boss Eddie Howe found just how cruel managerial life can be in his first game in charge.

The 31-year-old, who was handed the reins at Bournemouth for a tough trip to Darlington yesterday after Jimmy Quinn’s New Year’s Eve sacking, saw the Quakers bag two late goals to nick the game 2-1.

By all accounts Howe’s men had put in a brave performance and, having gone 1-0 up, deserved to come back with at least a point to show from the 630-mile round trip.

Howe has been told he will get the chance to prove himself in the hotseat and if he was any illusions as to just how difficult the task was, yesterday’s tough blow will have shattered them.

This week Quinn’s successor Kevin Bon claimed that - with the points deductions, financial restrictions and boardroom instability – even the self-styled ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho would struggle at the Dean Court helm.

Howe would be the first to admit he is no Jose and his management experience – in short, spells as reserve team coach and head of the Centre of Excellence at Bournemouth – is limited to say the least.

The fact that the former Cherries defender was a popular player will also not make him immune from criticism from the fans – as he would have seen with Quinn in recent months.

But this is a chance doesn’t come around very often as lack of finance may have forced the club to consider a rookie who would otherwise not have got a look in.

If Howe shows anything like the commitment and determination he showed as a player then he will throw his heart and soul into the club and should command the respect of the players.

The task is huge, daunting and demanding – but not impossible.

Howe needs to help the team rediscover their belief, get individuals playing in positions they are all comfortable in and aware of their roles and somehow unearth a cutting edge in attack that has been sadly lacking all season.

Having done all of that he will also need – as he discovered to his misfortune yesterday – that element of luck you sometimes need to win tight football matches.

Good luck Eddie, let’s hope you can become Bournemouth’s very own ‘Special One’.