EDDIE Howe piloted Cherries to Premier League safety and then added his support to non-league neighbours Wimborne Town’s bid for promotion.

The Magpies will tomorrow be hoping to win a place in the Southern Premier League when they face Swindon Supermarine in their eagerly-awaited play-off final at Cuthbury (3pm).

Howe, schooled in the town at Queen Elizabeth’s, was offered the manager’s job at Wimborne days after he had been sacked by Cherries as part of Kevin Bond’s backroom staff in September 2008.

Matty Holmes left his role on the Cherries academy to take up his first managerial post in May 2016 and has presided over two of the most successful seasons in the club’s history, culminating in this shootout for a place at step three.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Matty has done a great job. You can’t underestimate how difficult it is on the non-league scene to produce a team and to get it cohesive due to the limited training time you have.

“To achieve success is tough so credit to Matty and his team and I really hope they do it. I think it is great that the local teams are successful and try to play as high as they can. It is great for everybody connected with football in this area.”

Meanwhile, Wimborne winger Luke Burbidge is next season keen to lock horns with former club Poole Town following their relegation from National South.

Burbidge played a key role in Magpies securing their play-off place after leaving Poole for Wimborne in September. He helped the Dolphins win the Southern League in 2016.

The former Cherries apprentice told the Daily Echo: “I didn’t want Poole to go down. I messaged Tom and a few of the lads there to wish them all the best on the final day of the season.

“I was gutted to see them go down and it is a shame for the club. There are some good people there who have done really well over the years. I think they will bounce straight back.

“We have done really well this season and deserve to be where we are. I think we could definitely play at the next level so, hopefully, it happens.

“We beat Swindon Supermarine home and away but they are a strong side with good players so it is going to be a tricky game. But we can go into it full of confidence and, hopefully, we can do the job.”

Asked if his decision to leave Poole had been vindicated, Burbidge replied: “Definitely, I love it here and we have had a fantastic season. The manager and the boys have been great and have treated me well.

“When I came, I said to Matty that I wanted to help us reach the play-offs. Now we are there, I hope we can carry it on and step up to the next level.”

Wimborne’s elevation to the Southern Premier League would see Dorset’s big four compete in the same division for the first time in history.

They would join at the next level Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth, together with the likes of Salisbury, Basingstoke, Farnborough and Gosport.