LIFELONG fan Steve Sly admitted Cherries’ heroic promotion meant everything to him.

Dean Court director Sly watched alongside vice-chairman Jeff Mostyn and chief executive Neill Blake as Eddie Howe's stars completed their League Two mission at Burton Albion on Saturday.

And wiping away the tears, Sly hailed the army of fans that turned the Pirelli Stadium into a sea of red.

Sly told the Echo: "It's much better for me going up automatically than via the play-offs. Although the Millennium Stadium in 2003 was a great day out, here you have your true supporter base - the ones who go every week.

"There were 30,000 people at Cardiff and probably 20,000 of them had never been to a Bournemouth game. I don't want to do anything a discredit because we want all the support we can get, but these people do the miles up north every other week and they will be able to knock a few miles off the speedometer next season now!

"I can't thank the fans enough. They have been fantastic. We've seen these supporters at Grimsby, Darlington, Accrington and everywhere else - the same faces every other week.

"They mean so much to the board and so much to Eddie Howe and the players. They make the difference."

When asked where this season's achievement ranked in the club's chequered history, Sly added: "I haven't seen anything like it since Fulham in 1987. I never thought we'd surpass that, but this has just been amazing.

"It was a nervy performance but once we got the first goal, I felt that was it. And Alan Connell scoring at the end was brilliant. I was so pleased for him and it was the least he deserved.

"As a supporter it means the world, but behind the scenes it's a culmination of three years of hard work and we deserve it. Jeff and I have battled on through thick and thin and although we haven't always been everyone's cup of tea, I'm not going anywhere and neither is Jeff. We're here for the long haul and this club is on the up."

Sly insisted the Dean Court board would do everything it could to keep hold of boss Eddie Howe - but admitted the vultures could now start to circle Dean Court.

He said: "I always thought Eddie was capable of the job. We've all got degrees in hindsight but he's come from being sacked, to being youth manager, assistant manager and manager. It's incredible for him and I'm sure there will be clubs looking at him now.

"It will be a job to keep hold of him but we'll be making sure we do all we can to keep him."