BOSS Eddie Howe is convinced Josh McQuoid and Joe Partington can both enjoy fruitful careers elsewhere after reluctantly deciding to release the pair.

McQuoid and Partington, both products of the club’s youth set-up under Joe Roach, have been used sparingly by Howe in Cherries’ two seasons in the Championship.

Partington started Howe’s first two games as caretaker-manager at Darlington and Rotherham and featured in Cherries’ escape from relegation in 2008-09.

But the former Wales under-19 skipper suffered more than his fair share of injuries and has been restricted to brief substitute appearances since Howe’s return in October 2012.

The Portsmouth-born utility man, who made his first-team debut for Cherries at 17, spent the second half of the season on loan to Eastleigh and helped them to the Conference play-off semi-final where they were defeated by Grimsby.

Partington, who also served Aldershot and Eastbourne on loan, made 59 appearances for Cherries, the last of which came as a substitute against Wigan in the FA Cup in January 2013.

McQuoid, who is in his second spell at Dean Court, has been restricted to just one appearance in the Championship for Cherries, against Ipswich in December 2013.

The 25-year-old striker, who featured prominently in Cherries’ League Two and League One promotion successes, has seen his career hampered by injury.

Having flourished during Howe’s first spell as manager, McQuoid was snapped up by Millwall in a £550,000 deal in November 2010.

Capped five times by Northern Ireland, he returned to Dean Court in May 2012 as part of a swap deal which saw Scott Malone move in the opposite direction.

McQuoid, who spent time on loan at Coventry this season and Peterborough in 2013-14, has played 123 games for Cherries over two spells.

Howe, who also took McQuoid on loan to Burnley, told the Daily Echo: “Both Josh and Joe have been associated with the club for a long time and it is always very difficult to lose players who have come through from the youth team to play a big part in our recent history.

“Josh is someone we are very fond of and a very talented player who probably now needs to find a new home and create a different path in his career. He is someone we will share some very good memories with and someone we hope does very well.

“Joe has also given the club a great length of service. He is a player who has displayed a magnificent attitude in the time I have worked with him and someone who is desperate for success.

“It was a real shame that the early part of his career with us was hampered by injury and various setbacks. But he has gone on loan and done very well with Eastleigh and, hopefully, that is just the start for Joe.

“We would like nothing more than to see both Joe and Josh forge long and successful careers in the game and wish them every success.”