EDDIE Howe has lifted the lid on his decision to leave Cherries.

The legendary boss called time on his second spell in charge of the club in August, leaving by "mutual consent" following relegation from the Premier League.

Howe, who guided Cherries all the way up from League Two and spent five seasons in the top flight, was making his first appearance in the media since leaving, as a pundit on Sky Sports's Monday Night Football.

Discussing his decision to leave Cherries after relegation, Howe said: "I think it was definitely the way I didn't want it to end, but probably the only way it could end because I was so attached to the club, loved the club with every fibre of my body, but I just felt it was the right thing to do for the club to leave.

"The energy involved in the time that I was there, to get the club to where it was, to keep it there, it takes an incredible amount out of you. I think for everyone connected, a quick turnaround of the season, to let the club go in a new direction."

Asked if he had recovered from the disappointment of how his time at Cherries ended, Howe added: "It took me a long time. I really found it emotionally so difficult in the first few weeks because every day is your love of the club, your love of the job, your love of everyone connected with the club, the players, the staff and then it's cut and you have no contact with anybody, because you can't.

"You've got to let the club go in a different direction, you've got to let Jason (Tindall) manage a new team with his staff and you can't interfere with that.

"So from every day to nothing is mentally a very difficult one to adjust to."

The 42-year-old has been linked with various managerial roles in recent weeks, including Derby County and Celtic, but he insists he is in no rush to return to work.

Howe said: "I made my decision for the best interests of Bournemouth and for myself. I wanted to be at home, I wanted to be with my family, I wanted to see my kids grow up, I wanted to learn and develop my knowledge, my abilities as a manager.

"Then if I decide down the line to get back in, or I want to get back in if I'm lucky enough to be given an opportunity, then I'll do that.

"But for me, I don't want to get back in just for the sake of it. It would have to be something that really motivated me."