BILLY Paynter insists big-spending Cherries will have failed if their promotion dream bites the dust.

The Doncaster striker believes the Dorset club should be “expecting” promotion after shelling out on a host of signings over the past 11 months, as well as paying compensation to bring back boss Eddie Howe from Burnley.

Paynter, who is likely to feature when Cherries travel to the Keepmoat Stadium tomorrow, told the Sheffield Star: “The chairman, or somebody, has put in some money of late and they’ve decided that they are going to have a go for it.

“They didn’t make the best of starts but they look to have turned the corner.

“They still have some catching up to do but I think almost anyone in this league can find themselves up there and if they can put together a run of wins then they certainly can challenge for promotion.

“I’m sure that they’d be expecting to with the money they’ve spent.

“They’ve brought manager Eddie Howe back from Burnley, having paid them a large compensation fee, so that for a start shows that they mean business.

“As does the fact that he was prepared to drop down a division from the Championship.”