BOSS Jonathan Woodgate insisted “clarity” over the head coach position at Cherries was key as he sets his sights on a promotion push.

Woodgate revealed he was offered the job as head coach until the end of the season after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

The likes of Thierry Henry, David Wagner, Patrick Vieira and John Terry had all been linked with the role over the past two weeks.

But now he has been selected as the man in charge, Woodgate is looking to kick on with the club at the business end of the Championship campaign.

Speaking to afcbTV after getting the job on a permanent basis, Woodgate said: “I am really pleased.

“Obviously the circumstances haven’t been great over the past couple of weeks, it’s been tough.

“But now we get clarity moving forward for the players and myself – that’s a good thing. It’s really important going forward. Now we’ve got 15 (league) games left.

“It was important that, okay they (the club’s board) have looked at different options and picked me as their option to manage the club going forward for the next 15 games and, hopefully, trying to get promotion.”

Quizzed on how the events unfolded which led to him taking the position, Woodgate said: “I just got the call after the game on Saturday – after the defeat of course but I thought we played really well.

“They said they’d like a chat and offered me the job.”

Woodgate will keep Cherries’ current backroom staff in their positions at the club, meaning he will be assisted by Stephen Purches as his number two.

Speaking about his staff as a whole, the 41-year-old added: “They’ve been absolutely fantastic with me. I can’t thank them enough.

“It’s not just the manager it’s a team effort behind the scenes.”

Cherries host Cardiff in the Championship on Wednesday before a home game against Watford on Saturday – Woodgate’s first two games since taking over permanently.

“They are two very difficult games against Cardiff, who are on a big run and Watford who are up the top of the table as well,” he added.

“Every game in this Championship is so difficult and Saturday and Wednesday will be very difficult.

“You want games coming thick and fast and that’s what we’ve got now. We don’t spend a lot of time on the training pitch because you can’t due to fatigue and stuff.

“But you are playing three games a week, so it’s great for players.”