Eddie Departs - His Loan Period Ends

The Peterborough United match marked the end of a highly successful 3-month loan period for Eddie Howe, who now returns to Fratton Park. Speaking to BBC Sport, Eddie is quoted as saying that: "Now my loan's up, I just want to thank Sean, the players and the fans who have been absolutely magnificent to me," he admitted. I had a little doubt about coming back, as to what the reaction of the fans would be, but they've astounded me again, and I owe them a huge debt - as I do Sean".

On behalf of AFCB, Sean remarked that: "We took a chance with him, as he hadn't played for 18 months. But we knew what he was capable of, we were prepared to nurse him through and he's just got better and better - he's repaid us tenfold. We'd obviously like to keep him, but as usual, finance is a problem, although Playershare [the fan-led scheme to fund loan signings and player contracts] have been fantastic in helping us".

The only way we can not keep Eddie is to make an offer to buy him back from Fratton Park as Football League rules state that, because of his age (over 23), the maximum loan period is only 3-months.