CHERRIES chief executive Alastair Saverimutto has spoken of his "absolute regret" at the club's decision to part company with manager Kevin Bond.

Bond and his assistants Rob Newman and Eddie Howe were "relieved of their duties with immediate effect" following a four-and-a-half hour emergency board meeting last night.

The axe fell on the management triumvirate at a time when Cherries are struggling at the wrong end of League Two having collected just two points from their opening four games.

Saverimutto told the Daily Echo: "It's been a very disappointing start to the season and we didn't want to be in the position where we went another four games and were in a worse situation. We felt the changes needed to be made now.

"The changes were made based on what we've seen and where we want this club to go. Unfortunately, Kevin and his management team were not a part of the future plans.

"We're in an industry where you are judged on your results and performances. Unfortunately, our results and performances have not had the desired effect. This is a reaction based on where we are now, not on where we were last year or in the summer.

"It has been a very difficult time but we have had to reflect on a situation we couldn't ignore. The outcome was unanimous and it's a huge disappointment.

"I've worked with Kevin since I've been here and we spoke regularly on the phone. We did our best collectively to bring in the right players, given the difficult circumstances we've been faced with. Rob and Eddie also both put in 100 per cent.

"It's always very difficult, especially in football when you don't get the rub of the green. But I am charged with the task of running a business, both on and off the field.

"It is with absolute regret that we have been unable to continue with the services of three people whom I have been personally fond of and have worked with since I've been here.

"You always hope you can get a better result next week but you can't always give people another week. We're here to make decisions in the interests of the football club."

Cherries have called a press conference for midday today when they are expected to unveil Jimmy Quinn as Bond's successor and Jason Tindall as his assistant.

Quinn hit 23 goals in 54 games for Cherries and was a team-mate of Bond's during his brief 12-month stay at Dean Court in the 1991-1992 season.

The Northern Ireland international was on the verge of making a shock comeback as player-coach to Mel Machin in July 1997 before the move fell through and he joined Peterborough.

His management career to date has taken in spells with Reading, Swindon, Northwich Victoria, Shrewsbury and Cambridge United, together with a brief stint in Norway with Egersunds.

The 48-year-old Ulsterman led Cambridge to last season's Conference play-offs and left the club following defeat by Exeter City in the final at Wembley.

Tindall, meanwhile, spent eight years with Cherries before he was released by former boss Sean O'Driscoll in May 2006.

He made 195 appearances for the club although his progress was checked by a serious knee injury sustained in 2003.

Tindall, who still lives locally and is a close personal friend of Howe's, subsequently joined non-league Weymouth where he went on to become manager.

Now 31, Tindall worked with Quinn at Cambridge when he took on a scouting role following his sacking by Weymouth in January.

He later emerged as the frontrunner to become number two at Cambridge before Quinn stepped down in June.

Tindall worked under chairman and father-in-law Mel Bush at Weymouth, with the Wimborne-based pop promoter a guest of Sport-6, Cherries' new owners, at the last home game against Exeter.

  • Both Bond and Howe were unavailable for comment when contacted by the Echo last night.