EDDIE Howe acknowledges Cherries are in a “tough moment” and has stressed the importance of owner Maxim Demin’s understanding of the current situation.

Howe, who led Cherries into the Premier League for the first time in their history thanks in part to Demin’s financial input, has experienced a difficult baptism in the top flight.

Injuries to key players, coupled with some defining incidents in certain games, have seen Cherries slip into the drop zone after taking eight points from their first 12 games.

The indifferent start coincided with Demin selling a 25 per cent stake in the club to American investors PEAK6 which raised concerns among some supporters that the Russian could be looking to bail out.

However, chief executive Neill Blake acted swiftly to nip in the bud those suggestions, while Howe has offered Demin a public vote of thanks for his unwavering support.

“Nothing has changed,” said Howe. “Max is very involved and wants to know all the things he needs to about what is going on at the club, the day-to-day running and how people are.

“His level of dedication to the club hasn’t changed. It hasn’t dipped and it hasn’t increased either because he is still exactly the same.

“He is a winner and you don’t get to his level of success in life without naturally wanting to win and demanding to win. But he is also understanding of where we have come from, where we are at the moment and what has happened to us this season.

“He hasn’t overreacted at all which I think is really important from my perspective because how do you work in a volatile environment in the league we are in?

“We have to understand where we are as a football club this year and what type of season it was going to be for us. I felt it was always going to be this kind of season and, even with everybody fit, it was always going to be tough.

“We are in a tough moment and this is where you see the true colours of everybody.”

Asked whether he expected the level of support to change with new investors coming in, Howe joked: “I hope not!”

He added: “Who knows, I haven’t got a crystal ball. All I do know is that I don’t think anything changes from the day-to-day running of the club and Max is still the main decision-maker.

“The American investment is great for a number of reasons. We get more expertise and Max gets financial support. It is incredibly difficult at this level for one man to run a club.

“You have to have really deep pockets, continually, because everything costs money. The fact there is more support is good for him and for the future of the club.”