JIMMY Quinn is backing Cherries boss Eddie Howe to win the day over Swindon’s Paolo di Canio in the battle of the contrasting management styles.

Quinn – who played for and managed both clubs – is tipping Howe to lead Cherries to promotion but believes eccentric Italian di Canio could hold back the Robins.

Ulsterman Quinn endured an ill-fated four-month spell in the Dean Court hot-seat during the dark days of 2008 and was succeeded by Howe after just 19 league games in charge.

He also managed Swindon during one of the most turbulent chapters of their recent history in the late 1990s when the Wiltshire club went into administration.

Quinn also finished 1991-92 as Cherries’ top goalscorer and made more than 120 appearances for Swindon during three different spells at the County Ground.

Previewing tomorrow’s clash between two of his former clubs, Quinn told the Daily Echo: “In different circumstances, I would love to have done well at both Bournemouth and Swindon. But it didn’t work out for me at either club and it is great to see them doing so well this season.

“Eddie and Jason Tindall (Quinn’s assistant at Cherries) did a great job when they took over from me and have done fantastically well since they came back from Burnley. They are Bournemouth through and through and it was no surprise to me that they went back.

“Eddie has got a good management style and seems to be getting the best out of the players. He goes about his business in a quiet manner, he seems to have the backing of his players and they give everything for him. That’s all you can ask as a manager.

“I am not saying I would have emulated him if I had stayed at Bournemouth but I think we would have stayed up. There was too much upheaval and there was a lot of insecurity, both for myself and the players. I am delighted to see everything has been sorted and, there is no doubt in my mind, I think they will win the league.

“In my opinion, the only thing that will hold back Swindon is di Canio. With him, it is not so much about the players, it is all about him.

“You don’t really know how to take him and If a bigger club were to come in, I think he would jump ship.

“He is very much his own man and very much of his own mind. He is a showman and it is all about shock treatment with him. That’s not most peoples’ style but it seems to be his.

“Eddie and Jason seem to want to be there as long as they can and have got a helluva team. Out of the two of them, I would back Bournemouth all day long.

“In my opinion, Eddie’s management style will most definitely win the day in the end.”