SHAUN MacDonald insists Eddie Howe is “too good a manager not to be in the game” after he parted company with Cherries by mutual consent last weekend.

Howe left Cherries for the second time following relegation to the Championship, after almost 10 years at the helm in total, a run which included three promotions and five seasons in the Premier League.

MacDonald, who signed for Cherries under Lee Bradbury, 14 months before Howe returned from a spell in charge at Burnley, was part of the promotion-winning sides of 2013 and 2015.

And having enjoyed so much success working under his former boss, the Welshman, who now plies his trade at Rotherham United, admits he was surprised by last weekend’s news.

“I never really saw Ed leaving,” MacDonald told the Daily Echo.

“Even though they got relegated, I thought he’d stay and get them back up to be honest. It comes as a bit of a surprise to me, like I think it did for everyone.

“Everyone involved with Bournemouth knows no different really than Ed at the club. He’s done wonders there and it’s been such a successful time. It comes as a bit of a shock.

“I just do believe Ed would’ve put the club first. Whether the club feels it would benefit from a change or whether Ed believes that as well, I don’t know.

“I’m sure the decision wouldn’t have been made lightly. It would’ve been made for the best interests of the club.”

He continued: “Obviously they’ve had a tough year this year. It’s such a tough league the Premier League. I know the Cherries have been in there for five years now which is a massive achievement in itself I think and goes to show how well Ed has worked with the squad down there.

“It’s just been a difficult season but I’m sure both Ed and the club are going to have a bright future.”

During his tenure at Cherries, Howe was regularly linked with a move away from the club with his name mentioned when vacancies arose at the likes of Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur in recent years.

And despite Howe now having a relegation on his CV after ending the 2019-20 campaign 18th in the Premier League, MacDonald, who featured 101 times for Cherries, is confident the 42-year-old won’t be out of work for long.

“He’s always been linked, even with the England job at one point,” said the former Cherries ace.

“I think Bournemouth still has a bright future. I think they’ve got a very good team.

“The supporters will always get behind the players and from that side of it I think it will always be a well-run family club, so I don’t think anything changes there.

“I know Ed’s put in a good structure for that going forward.

“And then from Ed’s point of view, I think he’s too good a coach, too good a manager not to be in the game.

“I think whatever Premier League clubs will be looking for a manager in the future, a lot of those clubs will be looking at Ed.

“He does have really top-drawer qualities to go in and do an amazing job somewhere else.”