EDDIE Howe has thanked former Cherries boss Kevin Bond for the decision that "changed my life".

Howe will tomorrow come face to face with Bond, the man who gave him his first job in coaching.

Bond, in charge at Dean Court between 2006 and 2008, is now assisting Harry Redknapp at Birmingham, Cherries' opponents in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Speaking ahead of the clash at St Andrews, Howe said: “Kevin gave me my first coaching opportunity so I will forever be in his debt for that.

“When you reflect back, that decision and show of faith he gave me certainly changed my life.

“Upon my retirement, he could easily have said ‘thanks very much’.

“He owed me nothing. I was coming to the end of my career and knew my injuries were going to stop me from playing.

“It was a shame I couldn’t play for him more. I played a few games but I was clinging on for dear life at that stage.

“He saw something in me and gave me a chance to learn the game from someone I respected in Rob Newman.

"At that stage, I was very inexperienced and was just trying to form my basic coaching knowledge to build an idea of what I would and wouldn’t do.

"A lot of that is formed by Kevin and I can’t thank him enough for all those experiences.”

Redknapp, who signed Howe as a player while at Portsmouth in 2002, had 464 games in charge of Cherries between 1983 to 1992.

Following Cherries' promotion to the Premier League in 2015, he claimed Howe “deserves to be the Lord Mayor” of Bournemouth.

Asked what it was like to receive those comments, Howe replied: “To get praise from who I consider one of the greatest managers of his generation was incredible.

“Harry has always been a huge supporter of me. Maybe not in day-to-day contact but you need people as friends in football who will support you during different moments of your career and he has always been one of those who has done that for me.

“I am amazed by his passion, his enthusiasm and the fact he can’t stay away speaks volumes for his love for football.

“He has chucked himself right into the furnace again and he has that ability to manage and inspire people.”

Howe added: “It’s quite awkward with two people you know so well and you respect so much. To go against them in that way is quite unique.”