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The Bourne Recollection – Jamie Day – Part 2

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Written by kirsikka

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Jamie Day signed for AFC Bournemouth from Arsenal for a reported fee of £20,000 in March 1999. This was a time when the club spending any money at all on a player was a sign of how highly we rated them.

A talented midfielder, he never quite made the full breakthrough we hoped from him but he did still contribute to our chases for a third-tier playoff place during his stay.
When he arrived Mel Machin was the still manager and the club finished that season one place outside the playoff places, missing out on goal difference after a 0-0 draw against Wrexham on the last day of the season.

The next season the club struggled in comparison finishing a disappointing 16th and Mel moved upstairs to a Director of Football role to be replaced by Sean O’Driscoll for the 2000/01 season. We then contrived to again finish in seventh place, this time missing out on the playoffs by two points after that infamous 3-3 draw away to Reading.

During his time at the club, Jamie made 20 appearances and scored one goal.

After leaving the Cherries he played non-league football before embarking on a coaching and managerial career that has seen him in roles at a number of different clubs before landing his current position.

Continued from Part 1 (Click here)

=== LEAVING ===

How did your departure come about?

“My contract had 6 months to go and I had a meeting with Sean who said wasn’t going to renew in the summer so for me to try and get a club now before the end of the season.

Did you stay in touch with any of the players from your time at the club?

“Purchy (Stephen Purches) is the main contact now but I do occasional speak to Eddie (Howe) and Jason (Tindall).

=== MANAGERS/MANAGEMENT ===

You signed for us when Mel Machin was still the manager. What are your recollections about him?

“I found Mel very difficult to approach and have any real conversations with and found his process of team selections strange but when we did speak I found him fine.

Down the years, players have often talked about the meticulous detail Sean O’Driscoll would go into. Did you find the same and are you able to give any example of what that meant?

“Sean was a very good coach and made you think about the sessions you were taking part in and question why you would do certain things. I liked Sean’s sessions and use some of them still to this day.

You landed your first player/manager position at 30. What was it like to shoulder that kind of responsibility at a relatively young age?

“I always wanted to be a manager so when the chance come I felt I was ready. I had the qualifications and playing experience and a very good backroom staff.

You linked up with Adrian Pennock, another ex-Cherry, a couple of times in your coaching/managerial career. Since you weren’t at AFC Bournemouth at the same time, is the connection just a coincidence?

“I played under Ady when he was manager at Welling and we become good friends over the years and always enjoyed working with him.

The leap from Barrow to Bangladesh is a brave but extraordinary one. How did it come about?

“I had an Australian agent whose company was asked to find a coach. He contacted me for a CV and luckily I was approached and met the vice president for a meeting.

The FIFA ranking for Bangladesh makes it look like you have a real challenge on your hands. What’s your opinion of the standard of play relative to what you were used to in England?

“It’s been a great experience and we have made good strides in the rankings but still have a long way to go. I would say the standard is conference level.

What were the main differences in the style of play that you found when you arrived?

“Football in Asia is a lot slower paced and players have more time on the ball.

There are English managers past and present that have used success overseas, both at a club and international level, as a springboard back into the game over here. Would you say that’s your long term goal?

“My long term goal I would like to manage a higher ranked international team at some stage if possible or a league club in the UK.

If you could choose one club in England to take charge of tomorrow, or rather when football restarts, who would you like to manage?

“In a dream world, Arsenal is my club so that would be the one I would pick.

Thank you to Jamie Day for answering my questions and all the best to him in his management career and with Bangladesh national team. It’s going to be an extremely interesting one to follow from afar.

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