FORMER Cherries boss Kevin Bond says Eddie Howe will have nothing to prove to Burnley following his “massively correct” decision to return to Dean Court.

Howe, who was handed his first coaching post by Bond in 2008, tomorrow heads back to Turf Moor for the first time since quitting as Clarets boss 13 months ago.

Fortified by the goals of ex-Cherries apprentices Danny Ings and Sam Vokes, both Howe signings, Burnley have blazed a trail to the Championship summit this season.

And Bond, whose late father John managed both Cherries and the Clarets, saw the leaders end QPR’s unbeaten start in his capacity as Harry Redknapp’s assistant a fortnight ago.

However, despite their early-season success, Bond, who handed Vokes his debut during his spell in the Cherries hot-seat, says Howe made the right call by returning to Dorset.

He told the Daily Echo: “Moving on is part and parcel of football. Although supporters remain and like to see loyalty, even they have come to understand that it is very rare for people to stay for long periods of time.

“Make no mistake, if things aren’t going well at a club, they won’t hang around and will make a change. The average life span of a manager is months not years and, although it doesn’t always work, you can see why it happens.

“From a manager’s point of view, you can’t blame them if they think the job is not for them and the opportunity arises to move elsewhere, for whatever reason. From Eddie’s point of view, I think it has proved a massively correct decision and everybody at Bournemouth has benefited from it. You can understand Burnley being a bit irked but it is the nature of the game.”

Bond managed Cherries during a turbulent period in the club’s history between October 2006 and September 2008. He was relieved of his post at the same time as Howe, although the board quickly re-appointed Howe as centre of excellence manager.

“I don’t know what terms Eddie left Burnley on and what the feeling among their supporters was,” said Bond. “But it would surprise me if he were to get a hostile reception.

“Everyone who knows him would appreciate him for the man that he is. He is a genuine guy who works his socks off so it would be hard to think they would give him anything other than a respectful reception. Like all supporters, Burnley fans will be rooting for their team to get one over their previous manager.

“Burnley have started very well and have been able to keep a settled side. They play at a high tempo, which has paid dividends for them, and they were the first team to really press us this season. Whoever they play at this moment in time is going to have a really tough game.

“Sean Dyche has done a great job and is a good manager. Eddie has done a great job at Bournemouth and is also an excellent manager. I believe, in time, it would have happened for him if he had stayed at Burnley, as I am sure it would for Sean if he had stayed at Watford.”