MANAGER Eddie Howe has challenged his players to leave a lasting legacy by writing the most momentous chapter in the Dean Court record books.

Cherries step out against Bolton tonight knowing victory would all but secure a place in the top flight of the English game for the first time in the club’s history.

The possibility of a third promotion in five years under Howe edged closer after Middlesbrough and Norwich both faltered in their respective bids on Saturday.

Boro’s defeat at Fulham and Norwich’s draw at Rotherham saw Cherries remain in second place with one win in their final two games likely to be enough.

Cherries’ record-breaking heroics this season have seen them find the net no fewer than 92 times in the Championship, their goal difference superior to nearest rivals Boro to the tune of 16.

Having joined the Football League in 1923, Cherries spent 64 years in the bottom two divisions before Harry Redknapp guided them to the second flight in 1987.

Howe, handed his first managerial post at 31, prevented them from the dropping into the Conference in 2009 and led them to runners-up position in League Two just 12 months later.

And after returning from Burnley when Cherries were struggling near the foot of League One in October 2012, he took them back to the second tier just six months later.

Howe presided over the club’s highest finishing position last season – 10th – and promotion to the Premier League would be seen as one of the finest managerial achievements of recent times.

“Since joining the Football League 92 years ago, this club has never been in the top flight,” said Howe. “What a legacy the players could leave if they were to go up.

“They would be the first group of players from this club to go into that division and they would make history. They would be famous around the town forever so that should be a big motivation for them to try to achieve it.

“It is going to be exciting. We still have two games to go and have tried to focus the players’ minds very much on the first game against Bolton. Everything after that will take care of itself so we need to make sure we do our bit, regardless of what other teams do.”

Howe, who was at Birmingham on Saturday to run the rule over Charlton, was quick to play down the significance of both Middlesbrough and Norwich dropping points.

“I have maintained all along that results elsewhere do not interest me because there is nothing I can do to control them or any of the other teams,” he added.

“All we can do is concentrate on ourselves.”