CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell admitted Joe Roach’s departure marked a “sad day” for Cherries and insisted he had been keen to keep the popular youth coach.

Mitchell yesterday confirmed rumours that the influential under-18s boss had left Dean Court after 10 years at the Dorset club.

While Mitchell declined to go into detail about the reasons for Roach’s exit, he stressed: “He certainly wasn’t sacked.”

Cherries supporters wasted no time in voicing their anger at the news yesterday, with a number expressing disappointment via message boards, the Daily Echo’s comments section and Twitter.

Roach, who had helped oversee the emergence of players such as Sam Vokes, Brett Pitman and Josh McQuoid, had become a fans’ favourite after his youth-team products netted the club well in excess of £1million in transfer fees.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Mitchell insisted he had “no gripes” with Roach and paid tribute to his work.

He said: “I think Joe was a very valuable member of staff for the period of time I have been here. We had no wish or desire to lose Joe. He will be missed.

“He was a longstanding member of staff and it is a sad day for us all, but that is the situation.”

When asked what he would say to angry supporters who felt the development would have a damaging effect on the club, Mitchell said: “Joe is his own man. If Joe decides to leave, that is up to him. The fans can’t be angry, they should wish him well wherever he goes.

Looking to the future, he added: “I think we have got to try to adjust the staffing we have got and maybe bring in somebody else to help moves things along.

“But we haven’t got anybody else, at this moment in time, to replace Joe.”

The Daily Echo was unable to contact Roach for comment.