EDDIE Howe says Cherries' ticket price freeze is a fitting reward for the club's "very intelligent" supporters.

The club announced last week that season ticket and matchday admission prices would remain the same for a third consecutive Premier League campaign.

Howe told the Daily Echo: "I was very pleased to see that. I can’t thank the supporters enough for everything they have given us this season.

"They have been very supportive of us, very intelligent, I would say.

"They haven’t overreacted to certain events and situations we have been in. That has been one of the reasons we have been able to come back and achieve our objective.

"A fitting reward for that is to freeze the prices again next season and make sure the people of Bournemouth can enjoy Premier League football at the same cost."

Cherries' tickets, of course, are relatively thin on the ground, given the compact Vitality Stadium has room for only 11,464 fans.

And the manager is counting the days until his team can perform in front of larger matchday crowds.

"That is the dream," said Howe. "It is what everyone wants.

"If demand to watch the games outstrips the opportunity to do that, the challenge for the club is to try to increase the capacity and get as many Bournemouth people in here as we can."