Ex-Bournemouth players are lining up to sing the praises of Eddie Howe, as the 43-year-old edges closer to replacing Neil Lennon at Celtic.
Howe left Bournemouth as a legendary figure despite their relegation from the Premier League in 2020.
He'd taken them from the depths of League One and established them in the top flight before a turbulent 2019/20 campaign sent them tumbling back into the Championship.
In 12 years at the club he touched and transformed the careers of many, and that includes former England stopper David James.
One of the most iconic keepers of the Premier League era, James was coming to the end of his career when Howe took charge for a second spell.
And despite the new manager showing him the door almost immediately, James reckons How's man-management skills and tactical nous will serve him well at Celtic.
He told Sky Sports: “I was at Bournemouth when they got promoted from League 1 and Eddie took over after I had signed for the club.
“His understanding of people was second to none.
“He so politely sacked me that I didn’t realise until I had walked out the door that I was never going to play again. And I was like, ‘hang on!’.
“But I couldn’t run back into the room and have a go at him as he’s such a decent bloke and he did it in the right way.
“He was in the top two managers I ever worked with – Harry Redknapp is the other. Talk about chalk and cheese!
“At Celtic if he goes in there, then tactically he will be superb. He’s got a calming influence and would get the best out of that side.”
Record Sport confirmed last week that Howe is in 'advanced talks' over the Celtic job and it looks like just a matter of time before he is officially appointed.
There have been questions over whether he is equipped to handle the pressure of a title battle with Steven Gerrard - but ex-Bournemouth hero Simon Francis reckons he has all the tools to hit the ground running.
Francis knows Howe better than almost anyone having made more than 300 appearances in their rise through the leagues.
And he told Sky Sports that he is 'ready' to handle the heat at Parkhead.
“It is a huge opportunity for Eddie if that’s his preferred destination. The time away has done him the world of good," he said.
“He’s realised he’s now hungry and more determined to go back in.
“And it was always going to be at a bigger club than Bournemouth. No disrespect to the football club, we were punching well above our weight for a number of years.
“Eddie was always going to make that step up to a huge club and, while we were doing well in the Premier League, he was linked with top teams like Tottenham and the England job.
“And now he’s looking at going in at Celtic.
“There’s pressure up there, a different kind of pressure than there was down here.
“So it’s a different kind of pressure but one that I think he will relish and be ready for.”
