IF a referee were needed for today’s clash of the managerial tyros, Stuart Murdoch would fit the bill perfectly.

The only man to have managed both Cherries and MK Dons is well qualified to pass judgement on Eddie Howe and Karl Robinson.

At 32, Cherries boss Howe is two years and 10 months the senior of Robinson, who was just 29 when he was appointed Dons manager in May.

Murdoch was in the chair when Pete Winkelman controversially uprooted and relaunched the club, relocating it from Wimbledon to Buckinghamshire in 2004.

He subsequently joined Cherries as goalkeeper coach and briefly took the managerial reins with Joe Roach following Sean O’Driscoll’s departure to Doncaster in 2006.

“It is certainly a young man’s game now,” said Murdoch, who was relieved of his post as one of Alan Pardew’s lieutenants at Southampton in August. “Management is very difficult because the turnover is so great and that’s where I feel for these guys who are just starting out.

“They need a good start and need to be given time. It takes time for them to develop their own ideas and you just hope that the people in charge of the clubs will give them that opportunity.”

Murdoch, who said he kept a keen eye on events at both clubs, added: “Eddie was still playing when I was at Bournemouth, even though he was struggling with his injury. I remember we had a couple of conversations about what he was going to do when he finished.

“He always showed what a good pro he was. When I went back on a part-time basis under Kevin Bond, Eddie was starting to get involved in the coaching. He was very conscientious and always planned things around what the players would get out of it. He had all the makings of being a good manager.”

Murdoch, who has a wealth of knowledge of League One having worked as chief scout at Millwall, was also impressed with Robinson when their paths crossed last season. Robinson was previously assistant to Paul Ince.

“We played them four times and gave them four beatings,” said Murdoch. “I found Karl to be very humble in defeat. He was always very reflective and wanted to pick up as much knowledge as he could.

“Sitting in the manager’s office after games, he would quiz us about our coaching methods and things like that. It showed he wanted to learn and gain as much experience as possible.”

Since his sudden exit from Southampton, Brighton-based Murdoch has been keeping his hand in by working part-time as a scout and helping his wife with a sporting memorabilia business.

He added: “I was at Southampton when we played Bournemouth in the League Cup and they gave us a very good game. So far, they have surpassed expectations and deserve great credit for that.

“If they can sustain it, it is going to be anybody’s league. I don’t think anybody is going to run away with it.

“I know it is early days and I still think Southampton are probably the strongest side in the division because of the players they have got and I would expect them to come through. But it is going to be an open division.”

Young guns Howe and Robinson are the subject of a feature on Sky Sports over the weekend.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Howe said: “A lot is made of the age thing in management but I don’t think it plays as bigger part as people think. In any walk of life, if you are younger, you have got advantages over older people and vice-versa.

“Both myself and Karl are working extremely hard to try to bring success to our respective clubs. He has been in coaching a long time and at some big clubs. He’s done extremely well in the time he’s been in the job. He’s very confident and is a good coach.”