PROUD chairman Jeff Mostyn tonight hailed as “absolutely incredible” Cherries’ memorable achievement of preserving their Premier League status.

Mostyn was in the directors’ box at Goodison Park as Eddie Howe’s team appeared to have crossed the line despite losing 2-1 against Everton.

Their destiny looked to have been settled as struggling Sunderland trailed Stoke City 1-0 heading into stoppage time at the Britannia Stadium.

Defeat for Cherries, coupled with the Black Cats losing in the Potteries, would have ensured the Dorset’s club safety.

However, a dramatic late leveller by former Cherries loan star Jermain Defoe put a spoke through the celebrations and left the champagne on ice.

But the corks were eventually popping after Norwich had suffered a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal in the late kick-off, a result which guaranteed Cherries’ place in the top flight and left them clear of the bottom three.

Mostyn, who was asked to take on the chairmanship by owner Maxim Demin and manager Howe in 2013, gave his exclusive reaction to the Daily Echo and said: “I have said all along that staying in this division probably surpasses even the incredible achievement of winning the Championship last year.

“Had it not been for Leicester’s incredible success towards the end of last season, all three promoted sides would have been relegated and I think that puts into context just what an amazing achievement ours is.

“I remember being interviewed when the fixtures came out and said if we hadn’t got the points by the end of March, I was going to have the Samaritans on speed dial!

“It has been a pretty worrying past few weeks but it is over the season that counts and amassing that number of points has certainly been an incredible achievement from this group of players.

“Part of it has been in the face of adversity with the injuries we have had and I am proud nobody has even mentioned that.

"Eddie has only spoken about what we have had not what we haven’t had. But on reflection it is an even greater achievement to have done it without those four lads.”