ANGRY Cherries boss Eddie Howe hit back at Portsmouth counterpart Michael Appleton as a row erupted over his decision to recall striker Wes Thomas.

Pompey manager Appleton suggested the relationship between the south coast rivals could now turn sour because Howe opted to bring back Thomas earlier than expected following his loan spell at Fratton Park.

Appleton questioned Howe’s motives after the Cherries frontman was summoned ahead of what had been set to be his final game for Pompey at Sheffield United tonight.

But Howe, a former Portsmouth defender, fiercely defended his actions and admitted he was far from impressed by criticism of Cherries’ handling of the matter.

Responding to Appleton’s comments, Howe said: “I am acting in the best interests of Bournemouth and every decision I make will do that.

“I want to call back Wes to have a look at him and to see if he is, potentially, better than what I have in the striking department. I think that is our right as a football club.

“Portsmouth have benefited from having him for 28 days and now we have called him back. He is our player and we are doing what is best for Bournemouth. I am not going to do what is best for Portsmouth – I am not Portsmouth manager. I am very disappointed by the comments.”

Howe also spoke out over suggestions he had not helped his former club. Howe added: “To say that I haven’t helped out Portsmouth, I gave them Kevin Long for two months when I was at Burnley, and I didn’t receive one phone call thanking me for that.

“Because of my time at Portsmouth, I recommended Portsmouth highly and steered him that way ahead of other clubs, so those comments rankle with me.”

Discussing Thomas, who will return to training with Cherries today, Appleton had told The News: “I’m a little bit disappointed with the way Bournemouth handled it.

“You look at it one way and you can’t blame them because it is their player and they probably see us as a competitor, which is completely understandable.

“But the other side of it is that if he goes back, is he going to get used? They certainly don’t want to do us any favours, do they?

“You live and learn and you don’t forget. I will have a conversation with Eddie at some point.

“But who knows if this will sour the relationship we have with Bournemouth in the future?”

Appleton added: “I know the player is desperately disappointed and he was desperate to play in the game. I just hope for his sake he gets utilised at Bournemouth, otherwise there might be a bit of sour grapes.”

Meanwhile, Howe confirmed that defender Gary Bowles had opted to leave Cherries having made no first-team appearances since joining from Dorchester Town.

Howe said: “Gary has decided that he doesn’t want to pursue a career in professional football at this moment in time so he has decided to go a different direction in life, which we fully respect and wish him well.”