HEAD coach Andoni Iraola said it is "a shame” that Richard Hughes will leave Cherries this summer, adding: “We have had a very good connection.”

It was announced this week Hughes will leave his role as technical director, ending a decade-long spell behind the scenes at the club for the 44-year-old.

His replacement has already been confirmed, with former Cherries skipper Simon Francis stepping up from his role as assistant to Hughes.

Asked for his thoughts on the exit of Hughes, the man who pushed hard to bring Iraola to the club last summer, Cherries’ head coach said: “Obviously for me, it is a shame, because I have been working quite closely with him this season.

“He is very good at his job. As a person, we have had a very good connection since the beginning. I wish him the best for the future.

“But Simon knows how we work. I think the transition is going to be smooth because for sure Simon will have been learning a lot from Richard in these past years.”

Various top clubs, including Liverpool, Newcastle United and Roma, have been linked with a move for Hughes.

“For sure he will have very good chances in the future,” said Iraola.

“But now it is his choice to decide wherever he wants to go or whatever he wants to do.”

Quizzed on how he feels things will work with Francis at the helm, the Spaniard added: “Simon has been working with us very closely.

“He has been in all the meetings. He knows exactly how we want the team to play, the profile of players we need.

“I don’t think this will change a lot.

“For sure Simon will have his own ideas and he will the one implementing everything.

“As a coach, I have never been the person who decides the players we sign.

“I will try to help, not only Simon, but all the scouting staff for the club to take the best decisions.

“It is obviously easier when we know each other quite well and know what we need, the profile of players we are looking at. I think this will make everything much easier.

“He is also a person that has been here for a lot of time and understands the club even much better than me.”