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SIMON Francis bid an emotional farewell to AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday night, as the current club technical director is set to depart the club at the end of the season, ending a 15-year association with the Cherries.

Francis, as reported, will move on in the summer having represented the club as a player and as a staff member.

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The former club captain made 324 appearances for the club, before he hung up his boots.

He then joined the club as assistant technical director, before taking on the main role when Richard Hughes departed.

Evanilson and Simon Francis. (Image: Richard Crease)

Francis was honoured on the pitch after the Cherries’ draw with Manchester City on Tuesday, as the club reached Europe for the first time.

He said: “It's a really tough moment.

“I didn't know how this would go, to be honest, but very fitting that we've done it against one of the best teams the Premier League ever seen with one of the best managers ever.

“We've shown ourselves tonight, and to be honest, I'm just proud of being part of that journey.

“Fifteen years, nine as a player, six having retired and worked on the recruitment side of things.

Simon Francis and Rayan (Image: Richard Crease)

“And I just remember quite clearly in the interview I did with Fletch [Steve Fletcher] when he asked one question, what does success mean to me?

“And to be honest, I never thought about it until I thought about all the players we signed. And I'm just delighted that they chose us as a football club to be part of their journey.

“Antoine Semenyo tonight, the players that have gone on to bigger and better clubs, you can say, around the world, but they've helped us put Bournemouth on the map. So I'm proud.”