EDDIE Howe says Cherries' decision to send a cluster of their young stars out on loan was driven by a desire to expose the players to competitive football.

A host of Stephen Purches' under-21s made temporary moves from Vitality Stadium during the January transfer window.

Joe Quigley, Harry Cornick, Jordan Green, Sam Matthews and Jake McCarthy were among those to leave on deadline day, with Jordan Lee and Callum Buckley having secured stints elsewhere earlier in the month.

Howe told the Daily Echo: "I’ve always been a big believer in the loan system.

"It is more difficult now because you can’t commit to short-term loans. Everything is six months or to the end of the season, which is a bit more difficult for us.

"But with the younger guys, we have to get them out playing games, competitive games, where the results mean something.

"The quicker we can expose them to that, the better for their future careers.

"So, it’s very much a policy we like and one we will continue to pursue."

Quigley and Cornick will spend the rest of the campaign on loan at League One team Gillingham, while Green has linked up with a Leyton Orient side fighting for their Football League lives near the foot of League Two.

With Ben Whitfield and Matt Butcher currently enjoying season-long stays with Orient's divisional rivals Yeovil, and Lee, Buckley, Matthews and McCarthy all being taken by clubs in the fiercely-competitive National League, Howe is delighted Cherries' development set-up is attracting such interest.

He said: "Hopefully, we’re building a reputation where our players come with certain characteristics: The ability to play and want the ball and play under pressure and all the things we do every day.

"There is some good work going on with the youth team and the development squad at the club and hopefully that is being seen."