BOSS Eddie Howe is determined to play his part in making Cherries “even stronger as a club and a team” after committing his future to the Dorset outfit.
Howe, who masterminded promotion from League One to the Premier League in three years, has today signed an extension to his current contract.
Howe, in his first spell as boss and in his first job in management, helped preserve Cherries’ Football League status in 2009 before guiding them to promotion to League One in 2010.
And following his return – when Cherries were fourth bottom in the third flight – he took them into the Championship in his first season before guiding the club to the top flight for the first time in its history in May.
Howe, who was entitled to an extension after guiding Cherries into the Premier League, said: “I think everyone is well aware of my feelings for the football club. We had been in discussions since we got promotion and the negotiations were very good. It was done very quickly in the end and I am very pleased to have committed my future here.
“The supporters have always backed me but to have the support of the people above me and for them to be happy with the work we have done so far and want me to continue along with my very good staff, I am absolutely delighted. It just gives you that confidence and stability. We will all work together for a period of time and try to move the club forward again.”
Howe has forged an excellent working relationship with owner Maxim Demin, chief executive Neill Blake, chairman Jeff Mostyn and the club’s directors.
He added: “The job of a football manager is very precarious. People say it is six games long and if you have six bad results, you come under pressure. I feel we have a unique relationship. That is not to say I am going to be immune from pressure and you consistently have to get results.
“But I do feel we have done things slightly differently where we have a really good team of players, a really good team of staff and we are very well supported by the board and, hopefully, that will bring consistent success for the club.
“We have had a lot of success and, naturally, that breeds confidence in each other. Myself and the chief executive and chairman have had a relationship since the very dark days of transfer embargoes. You build a really solid relationship from struggles like that and when you have nothing, it does bring about very strong friendships. That is why I think I am in a very fortunate position. Since Max has come in, we have built such a good relationship and we have done well for each other.
“But the challenge in football is always to move forward and keep looking forward, not back. The challenge now is to make the club and the team even stronger.”
Howe, speaking to the club website, added: “The club is always changing and evolving. Even though personnel might not, the feel of the club is so I want to work for an ambitious, progressive football club. I think any manager in the land would tell you that.
“You want to do things and you want to be able to make the players better. A lot of that comes down to staffing and facilities and the club put a lot of money and effort into improving everything here in the summer. You just have to walk around the stadium and training ground to see the club is really moving forward.”
Howe, asked what it was like to be talked about and linked with other clubs, replied: “To be honest, I don’t know if I have. And that is not me trying to play games.
“My honest focus is on our training and on our games. I don’t read newspapers or speculation. I don’t try to find or seek things that are being spoken about me. I learned very quickly in management that you need a very thick skin and the best way to avoid any emotion or turmoil is to not read anything so I am not aware of that. I have made this decision based on me wanting to stay here and the club wanting me to stay.”
- Daily Echo
