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WHEN Jonathan Woodgate began to take charge of Cherries earlier this month, he openly admitted to one regret he had from his time at Middlesbrough.

A rookie boss, Woodgate took over his boyhood club on Teesside in June 2019, penning a three-year contract. But just 12 months later he was out of a job, sacked with the club teetering above the Championship relegation zone.

During Woodgate’s time in charge of Boro, he brought in his former team-mate Robbie Keane to be his assistant with Leo Percovich also appointed to his coaching staff. While all three had glittering international playing careers, they had not managed a senior game between them.

Woodgate was keen to ensure that situation did not repeat itself at Cherries.

Bournemouth Echo:

Speaking to the Daily Echo on Tuesday about his backroom staff, having been appointed as permanent head coach two days earlier, the 41-year-old said: “I’ll look to bring a couple in. I’ll look to bring one more coach and then someone with experience as well.

“My coaching team at Middlesbrough was very good, I was really happy with it. I just wish we’d added something, a bit more experience to it. But if I can bring a first-team coach and then bring another assistant in to work alongside Purchy (Stephen Purches) and myself, that will be even better.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Jordan watches over Cherries from the stands on Wednesday night

Sure enough, two days on and two new coaches are in place at the club. Gary O’Neil, a former team-mate of Woodgate’s at Middlesbrough, arrives from Liverpool as a senior first-team coach.

But the second appointment certainly ticks the one big box Woodgate feels he needs to make a success of his time at Cherries.

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Joe Jordan, 69, arrives on the south coast with a wealth of experience from both his playing days, earning 50 caps for Scotland and featuring more than 100 times for both Leeds and Man Utd, to managing 450 matches throughout his career for the likes of Bristol City, Stoke and Hearts.

Bournemouth Echo:

Will former Leeds and Manchester United legend Joe Jordan work magic with Cherries?

He also spent a big chunk of his coaching life working as an assistant to Harry Redknapp, including at Tottenham during Woodgate’s time in north London.

Cherries looked confused as to exactly how to approach last night’s game against Cardiff at Vitality Stadium, failing to match-up to the Bluebirds’ physical approach.

A change in formation and personnel stemmed the tide in the second half, but the damage had been already done and Cherries fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Bournemouth Echo:

Little over two months ago, Cherries sat top of the Championship table. Defeat last night, a seventh in 13 league games since beating Wycombe in mid-December, sees them slip out of the play-off places.

They need to find a system and formula that works quickly to stay among the chasing pack. The experience Jordan will bring could prove to be vital in that quest.