BOSS Scott Parker paid tribute to long-serving Dan Hodges after it was confirmed he had left to join Eddie Howe’s backroom team at Newcastle United.

Hodges spent close to a decade at Cherries, first joining in 2012 when Paul Groves was in charge of the club.

Groves quickly moved on, but Hodges remained, working his way up to a position as head of sports science.

Despite the arrivals of the likes of Alastair Harris and Charlie Moore to Cherries over the summer under new head coach Parker, Hodges remained in position until being snapped up by Howe earlier this month.

Asked about the departure of Hodges, Parker told the Daily Echo: “Dan has been fantastic in a short space of time. I’d work with him again.

“He’s someone who had done an incredible job while he was here and that’s exactly where Dan is.

“I wish him all the best to be quite honest with you, a very talented person in what he does.

“I wish him all the best at Newcastle and the challenges he is going to face. I have no doubts his quality will help them.”

Parker confirmed Cherries would not be looking to replace Hodges at Vitality Stadium, with the head coach pleased with his backroom staff.

“I am happy with where we are at this present moment in time,” added the Cherries boss.

“We brought my staff in and we are comfortable in that – there’s people who are at the club as well who have been part of that and have been brilliant as well.

“We have got more than enough now.”

Cherries make the trip to Derby County on Sunday.