EVER since he started spreading the news, Eddie Howe has been revered by Cherries followers as king of the hill, while today his team sits top of the Championship heap.

As the Frank Sinatra classic bellowed from the PA system at the New York Stadium on Saturday, Howe and Cherries followers could have been forgiven for a collective pinch.

Six years ago to the very day, Howe had presided over a 1-0 defeat by Rotherham which had left Cherries 10 points adrift of safety in 91st place in the Football League.

As caretaker, the last thing Howe probably would have expected after losing at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield was an invitation to manage Cherries on a permanent basis.

“It seems like a long time ago but the memories are still fresh for me,” said Howe, after leading Cherries to a 2-0 victory against the Millers on the sixth anniversary of his appointment.

“I remember getting a bit of stick from Bournemouth supporters after the game and you could understand it at the time because they were really disappointed with what was happening with their club.

“We had just been beaten on another long away trip and it was consecutive defeats for me as caretaker-manager. It looked like we were heading into the Conference. I had a great relationship with them during my playing career and it was the first time I’d had any negativity towards me personally from our supporters.

“I always think it’s important that you don’t forget times like that. It couldn’t have been any worse for the club really and now we are where we are so it has been a dramatic transformation. It would be a great story if we could end it in some way this season but there is a long way to go.”

Condemned to defeat by Mark Hudson’s 18th-minute goal, Cherries had Danny Hollands sent off midway through the second half before Mark Molesley missed a great chance to level in the closing stage.

“I remember the emotions of every defeat because every defeat in management hurts,” added Howe.

"That was fresh because it was only my second game. At that stage, I didn’t have a clue that I was going to be named manager and thought my caretaker time had probably come to an end.

“With different people in charge, it might well have and that is the beauty of fate and what can happen in life when someone shows a bit of faith in you.

“I took a phone call from Adam Murry on the way home and he said the job was mine. He said they wanted me to have it until the end of the season.

“I have said in subsequent interviews that I thought he was mad because I didn’t feel I was the guy to take the club forward in what was going to be the most important six months of its existence.

"To stay in the league was so important to the future of the club. I didn’t feel I was the man to do it. I reluctantly accepted because I didn’t want to be a coward and run away from it.

“At the time, if someone had said we would be where we are now six years later, I don’t think anybody would have believed them and that someone would come in and invest in the club to enable it to get back on its feet. It does give hope to every club that although times are tough, it can turn very quickly.

“I am delighted to have got the club into this position with a tremendous team, tremendous players and wonderful supporters.”

As the song goes, it’s up to you!