Eddie Howe going nowhere insists Bournemouth chairman
Tuesday 28 April 2015 12:15, UK
Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn believes the newly-promoted club will have no problem hanging onto manager Eddie Howe after they delivered his dream of top-flight football on Monday evening.
A 3-0 victory over Bolton in front of a packed Goldsands crowd all-but guaranteed the Cherries a place among English football's elite next season.
And speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Mostyn, who admitted to being a bit fragile after a 'long, long night of celebrations', said: "I have been on record many, many times as saying I think Eddie is the best young English manager.
"Often I have been wearing my FA hat with the young England teams abroad and I've been singing his praises, but I realised I was shooting myself in the foot.
I cannot see Eddie wanting to leave his football club, his family and his home to go onto another club where he may be vulnerable.
"The more I big him up the more people have a desire to take him on board. But I also said I knew his desire was to manage a Premier League club and that miracle has happened, and I always did say that that club would be AFC Bournemouth.
"We didn't expect it to happen so quickly but here is a young man who is dedicated to the club. He has been here since he was 10 and now that we are in the Premier League I think he will go from strength to strength.
"I cannot see him wanting to leave his football club, his family and his home to go onto another club where he may be vulnerable."
And Mostyn was quick to sing the praises of the Bournemouth players who secured promotion, many who have been with the club since the dark days at the foot of League Two.
Miracle
"I have so much love for them. We have travelled every single game together and there was a lot of love in that dressing room last night," he added.
"Six years ago this football club was on its knees. When I arrived here, and there were other people here to help, the then chairman Abdul Jaffer was looking to put a consortium together to save the club.
"It had previously been in administration and I just happened to be here at the right time. I've said on many occasions that the day I bought the club I must have left my head at home and bought it with my heart.
"No one with any sense would have actually come anywhere near it. But for whatever reason I put my heart and soul into the club and we were fortunate to be able to fund the administration, come out of the administration and then move on.
No one with any sense would have actually come anywhere near it. But for whatever reason I put my heart and soul into the club and we were fortunate to be able to fund the administration.
"But to have two consecutive years of minus points, when we were relegated on the last day of the season (after minus 10), then to start the next season with minus 17 and survive is an absolute miracle.
"And that miracle is down to Eddie and his team and all the players who I think created a siege mentality and I think that siege mentality has actually contiunued the way we play as a family.
"A lot of the players have come through from the second division - Brett (Pitman) was on the pitch last night and he has scored two winning goals for us in two winning promotions and to see him take the field last night filled me with immense pride.
"Throughout the last six years everyone has given their heart and soul to play for Eddie and nobody was more happy last night for the owner than me.
"Maxim (Demin) is a very, very special person and I don't even like to talk about the days when I, by his wealth, put a small amount of money into the club. It was obviously relevant at the time but without him we would not be having this interview today.
"He's a real gentleman and I am absolutely thrilled for him that his perseverance, commitment and huge investment in the football club has now paid dividends."
