MAX Gradel fired a parting shot at the hierarchy of former club St Etienne but then insisted: “I have more important things to worry about.”

The Ivorian winger, one of eight first-team recruits at Cherries this summer, completed his protracted move from the French Ligue 1 outfit on Tuesday for an undisclosed fee understood to be around £6million.

Gradel was known to be having a medical at Vitality Stadium on Monday but the move was delayed by a late financial wrangle with his former club.

The 27-year-old even posed with fans outside the stadium before his move was officially ratified as well as making public his disgust at the hold up via social media site Twitter.

A post, that was later deleted, translated to: “Today I am disappointed with the behaviour of the club leaders because enough is enough.”

Quizzed on his stop-start transfer to the Premier League newcomers, Gradel told the Daily Echo: “It is sorted. I love St Etienne and I am very happy to have played for the club.

“The only thing I am not happy with is the two presidents because they have been very bad. They did not keep their word and when you say something, you need to do it.

“Unfortunately, that is football and that is life. It will not take away the love I have for the club and I respect the fans.”

Asked for his side of the story, Gradel continued: “Everybody knows I am not happy about it but I just want to focus now. That is the past and I have more important things to worry about.”

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe’s bullish new boy claimed a clutch of clubs, including Premier League trio Everton, West Ham and Watford, had declared their interest in his services this summer.

He added Dynamo Moscow and Lille to his list of suitors but revealed his long-standing relationship with Howe and the support Cherries gave him following his mother’s untimely passing during his loan spell back in 2007 had swayed his decision.

“When I said I chose Bournemouth, people asked why I wanted to come here,” said Gradel.

“I said it is (because of) the heart. I had a lot of hard times and this club supported me. It is something you cannot forget.

“When somebody is there for you in the hard times and you have the opportunity to be there for them, you just do it.”

He continued: “If Eddie wasn’t at this club, it would be hard for me to come back. You have to have the right people.

“He is a good coach but on top of that he is a really good person. He really cares and you don’t find many people like that and it is important for me to work for someone who really cares.”

  • Check out our exclusive feature interview with Cherries defender Sylvain Distin on keeping pace with younger players and the Aston Villa match betting with Jem Racing in today's print edition of the Bournemouth Echo.