Howe: Disappointed by Pompey comments

AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has said that he was disappointed with Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton's comments following the end of Wesley Thomas' loan spell.

The Cherries striker was sent out on loan by former manager Paul Groves and Thomas went on to join League One neighbours Portsmouth on an emergency loan deal at the end of September.

The loan was announced on the 28th September and 24 hours later, Thomas made his first appearance for Pompey, scoring on his debut against Scunthorpe.

He went on to score another two goals for Portsmouth from seven games.

But with Eddie Howe re-joining the club as the teams manager, Howe wanted to take a closer look at Thomas as he continues to evaluate the squad he inherited from former managers Paul Groves and Lee Bradbury.

Football League rules state that emergency loan moves can be no shorter than 28 days, so after those days elapsed Howe opted to recall his player.

While Portsmouth had hoped he would be involved in their game away to Sheffield United despite the fixture being moved to this (Monday) evening for Sky Television coverage.

Pompey manager Michael Appleton said he had been disappointed with the way Bournemouth handled the situation and claimed that it could 'sour the relationship' between the two clubs in the future.

He added...

'They certainly don`t want to do us any favours, do they?

'You live and learn and you don`t forget.

'I will have a conversation with Eddie at some point.

Appleton's comments have annoyed Howe, who spent two injury plagued seasons with Portsmouth as a player between 2002 and 2004.

Howe told the Daily Echo...

"...Portsmouth have benefited from having him for 28 days and now we have called him back. He is our player and we are doing what is best for Bournemouth. I am not going to do what is best for Portsmouth - I am not Portsmouth manager. I am very disappointed by the comments."

"To say that I haven`t helped out Portsmouth, I gave them Kevin Long for two months when I was at Burnley, and I didn`t receive one phone call thanking me for that.

"Because of my time at Portsmouth, I recommended Portsmouth highly and steered him that way ahead of other clubs, so those comments rankle with me."

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