BOSS Eddie Howe paid a glowing tribute to Brett Pitman and admitted to having had “mixed emotions” over the striker’s Cherries exit.

Pitman, who was in his second spell at Dean Court, today completed a free transfer move to Championship outfit Ipswich and is understood to have signed a three-year deal.

The Channel Islander joined Cherries as a 15-year-old and is the club’s fourth all-time leading league marksmen having netted 96 times in 268 games.

His exploits have been hugely instrumental in the club’s remarkable rise under Howe with Pitman having led the goal charts during the Greatest Escape in 2009 and completed a hat-trick of golden boots after finishing as top scorer in the 2010 and 2013 promotion campaigns.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “I don’t have to tell people what I think of Brett. He has been magnificent for me personally and for this football club. He has been a great servant.

“His Bournemouth career has sort of mirrored my managerial career and to lose someone who has the club so close to their heart was an incredibly difficult decision for him and us.

“Brett had a year left on his contract and I couldn’t make him any promises regarding playing time next season.

“I really left the decision to him as to what he chose to do with the next step of his career. He wanted the security of a longer contract which we couldn’t offer him so he decided to join Ipswich.

“I want to thank him for everything he has done for me and for this football club. He will be fondly remembered by everyone here and has been instrumental in our past three promotions.”

Pitman started Howe’s first game at Darlington when Cherries were seven points adrift of safety in League Two in January 2009 and was on the bench as they won the Championship at Charlton in May.

Howe added: “There is no doubt in my mind that without Brett, we would have gone down to the Conference in my first season. I could say the same for a number of players in that team, people like Steve Fletcher and various other players.

“No one man kept us up but Brett was an instrumental part of that team and that will never be forgotten by me or by our supporters.

“His impact when he came back for our League One promotion season was incredible. I had hoped he would have had an impact but it was a lot greater than I could have wished for as he finished as leading goalscorer.

“Brett has been worth his weight in gold over the past two seasons because he has played his part on and off the pitch. He was a brilliant supporter of the other players when he wasn’t involved and was a real team player.

“That is why, at this stage of his career, I couldn’t stand in his way if there was a move he wanted to pursue. I had to be very honest with him and let him know where he stood and that is why the outcome has ended up how it has.”