KEVIN Bond has told how former Cherries chief Alastair Saverimutto axed him – and then phoned him for advice before sacking his replacement Jimmy Quinn just three months later.

Saverimutto, Cherries’ former chief executive alongside Sport-6 business partner Paul Baker, gave Bond and coaches Rob Newman and Eddie Howe their marching orders in September 2008 following a poor start to the club’s League Two campaign.

Hit by a 17-point deduction for exiting administration without a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), Bond’s side managed just two points from their opening four games having suffered relegation from League One the previous season.

Now, 10 years on, Bond has revealed how Saverimutto called him at home to ask his opinion on who should replace Quinn, who was sacked on New Year’s Eve 2008 after just 121 days in charge.

Speaking in former Daily Echo sports editor Neil Meldrum’s new book ‘AFC Bournemouth: The Fall & Rise’, Bond said: “I had heard all kinds of rumours that the club was going to go to new people once the administration had finished.

“That was the case when Savi and Paul Baker arrived and Jeff Mostyn took more of a backseat.

“I’d heard even then that Jimmy Quinn was waiting in the wings to take over as manager, as he had a relationship with Savi and Paul, and I felt really unstable.

“My days were numbered and it was very difficult for me at the start of that season.

“We lost to Port Vale and Exeter after draws against Gillingham and Aldershot and I went in and Jeff, Steve Sly and Savi were inside. Savi told me I had to go.

“It was tough for Jeff as we were friends, first and foremost, and I gave him a hard time.

“I shouldn’t have done that, but I’d lost my job and I was so disappointed.

“It was no longer his decision so he had to support Savi. I understand that now, but it was hard. As expected, Jimmy came in and I was gone.”

Quinn’s tumultuous tenure saw Cherries register just five league wins from 24 games and the club was second from bottom of League Two when Saverimutto bowed to fan pressure and axed the former Dean Court striker.

Bond added: “‘The funny thing was, a couple of months after giving me the sack, Savi phoned me at home one night in December. It was the last thing I was expecting. Things hadn’t improved once Jimmy had taken over and the fans were raging at Savi, calling for his head and all sorts.

“He knew he had to make a change, even though Jimmy was his man and had only been in the job for a couple of months, so he phoned me to ask what I thought he should do. I couldn’t believe his front, but I said he should give the job to someone who knew the club and had that connection with the supporters.

“At the time, did I think he was the right man for the job? I don’t know – it was a massive task keeping an ailing club in the Football League. But I knew he had something, so I told Savi to appoint Eddie Howe.”

AFC Bournemouth: The Fall & Rise, published by Pitch Publishing, is available from Amazon and all good bookshops from October 4. It can be pre-ordered from Amazon by visiting http://amzn.eu/d/8cINNIf