AFC Bournemouth pulled off the Great Escape on Saturday, avoiding the drop out of the Football League despite a seventeen point penalty.
While the task started to look less likely even to the most positive fan during the Kevin Bond and Jimmy Quinn half of the season, the second half of the season under Eddie Howe was truly a remarkable achievement, for the youngest manager of the Football League.
To celebrate our achievement, UpTheCherries contacted various people from the past and present of the Dean Court boardroom and former Chief Executive Alastair Saverimutto was the first to respond and he told us…
‘The season has had its fair share of ups and downs. When handed down -17pts from the powers at the FL less than 24hrs before the visit of Gillingham, we all knew we were in for an almighty battle.
‘Kevin was the first casualty which was one of the hardest decisions given his 4 game scenario, followed by Jimmy Quinn’s exit after 20 plus games having just not been able to inject that required magic formula into the squad. However if there had to be pain to unearth the 3rd AFCB manager within the first half of the season then we certainly felt it.
‘What a New Year’s Eve! An enormously difficult time to be relieving JQ and an opportunity of a lifetime for Eddie Howe. In stepped 31 year old Eddie with an almost mission impossible in a season that many felt was the most important in the club’s history.
‘Eddie’s first task was to assess his squad and strengthen wherever financially possible, however confronted with his first ever managerial transfer window within hours, his task became somewhat harder.
‘5 players in during a financially difficult January lifted Dean Court and gave a renewed hope of survival to all.
‘The rest you could say is history. Eddie, Jason and I had an open and very strong working relationship that was almost unique in sport. The importance of moral support, communication and friendship between the three of us certainly added to the growing positive atmosphere and attitudes of all around.
‘Eddie oozes in confidence and has an amazing ability to transfer inner believe. He is intelligent and understands the core requirements of crossing the winning line, hence the incredible delivery of FL2 survival.
‘In the business of sport the key to success are the ‘people’ both on and off the field. However unfortunately in this day and age finance plays a big part, and although I truly believe we battled through the impossible both on and off the field to get to this position today, clearly the scars of the battles won and lost off the field are evident to all.
‘My personal battle to steer the ship through very turbulent financial times and fire fight almost on a daily basis, has certainly been worth it especially given the club’s mammoth team success. It’s very easy for people on the outside to be critical, however when the club’s revenues fall far short of the costs, and the prevailing recession bites even harder by the week, driving a business without a regular major crisis is simply impossible.
‘Investment has been key since December 08, and deals struck without fruition have been the keynote to the clubs financial instability. However FL2 will certainly help attract credible investment over the coming weeks, and I hope the club’s financial future can once again be assured.’
UpTheCherries would like to thank Savi for his time and we hope to bring you more comments from various people past and present at Dean Court.
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