Howe: It has been intense

The Cherries led the Championship for most of the season but opened up the door for their rivals after a 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday last weekend only for Middlesbrough and Norwich to slip up on Saturday.

And goals from Marc Pugh, Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson saw off the 10-man Trotters and left Bournemouth three points and 19 goals clear of Boro with one game to play.

But their manager admits he never wanted to consider he would be managing at the likes of Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates come August until that final whistle blew.

"I honestly didn't start thinking it, you don't want to think it is possible," he explained. "You work every day on each game and I hadn't looked that far ahead, that is my honest answer.

"It has been so intense, the Championship is such an intense league and people were waiting for us to slip away. They were looking at our squad and saying it might not be deep enough to maintain our push.

"We just tried to win the games and didn't think about our position too much."

Chairman Jeff Mostyn, who wrote a cheque for £100,000 to save the club from liquidation in 2008, felt his side have achieved the impossible.

"Six years ago we were on the edge of abyss," Mostyn told BBC Radio Solent.

"We've climbed right through the leagues and into the Premier League. It's just incredible. I don't think anybody, not even the craziest optimist, would ever have thought this was possible.

"The reality is we are going to be rubbing shoulders with football's glitterati next season and we'll do ourselves proud.

"For me this is achieving the impossible. For all football fans, this is the perfect story and hopefully it gives hope for every club that you can come back from oblivion and get to the Premier League.

"I am so proud of everybody and my total respect to the owner, the chief executive and all the staff. When I first arrived, we could not afford a first-class stamp."

In 2009 they were deducted 17 points for being in administration, were forced to use bucket collections to keep the club afloat and had just seven points from 22 games when Howe took charge of his hometown side at just 31.

"I thanked the fans for their support because this club was down on its knees six years ago, we had nothing," Howe explained.

"But a group of supporters stuck with the club and put their own money from their pockets to keep the club alive. They are reaping the reward for all that loyal support.

"It is a club I watched as a kid and as a 12 and 13-year-old this is where I came to watch football every week. This club was good enough to give me a break as a player and a manager, I can't thank them enough.

"It shouldn't be them thanking me, it should be me thanking them for everything they have done. This club is a very special place and really does deserve its moment in the sun."