Redknapp tips Eddie to bounce back from pain of exit and relegation

HARRY REDKNAPP is convinced Eddie Howe will land a top job when he returns to football despite being unable to prevent Bournemouth’s relegation.

Howe, 42, has left the Cherries by mutual consent after eight years in charge, with his No.2 Jason Tindall (with Howe, right) now the favourite to take over.

Howe, who has had two spells as Bournemouth boss – helping to guide them from 23rd in League Two to the Premier League – penned an emotional goodbye message to club owner Maxim Demin, the staff, players and fans on Saturday night after his exit was announced.

His departure, just a week after the club dropped out of the top flight, raised questions about what level Howe can expect to return to once he has taken a break. But former Cherries manager Redknapp is convinced that Howe will bounce back into one of the elite posts. “Eddie has done an amazing job,” said Redknapp (below). “It is a miracle what he achieved at Bournemouth. “I’ve no doubt at all he will end up with another top job. He took a team that had no right to be anywhere near the Premier League in there – and kept them there for five years. It’s an astonishing achievement.

“They were in League Two when he first took over, and he took them through the divisions into the Premier League. He did that with more or less half the players who played for him in the first few years he was there second time round. It is an amazing story.”

It remains to be seen whether Howe (top) will be offered a chance to make his comeback with a Premier League side, or if a promotion seeking Championship club will be his next managerial destination.

But Redknapp believes that Howe will be near the top of plenty of shortlists for jobs.

He added: “Anyone with any sense will look at Eddie and see one of the best young English managers out there.

“Plenty of other managers have been relegated. But Eddie had horrendous injury problems last season – he will bounce back.”