SCOTT Parker hailed his side for the resilience they had shown over the course of the campaign, with the head coach believing “it has been tough, one million per cent.”

The former England International achieved his second promotion from the Championship in his fledgling managerial career on Tuesday night, as Cherries beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium.

Parker had previously led former employers Fulham to the Premier League via Wembley and the play-offs.

After arriving from Craven Cottage in the summer, Parker stressed that the side he inherited at the start of the season was “inexperienced” prior to reinforcements towards the end of both transfer windows.

Reflecting on the campaign as a whole, Parker told the Daily Echo: “It has been tough, one million per cent.

“Everyone forgets at the start of this season this group of players was a young group.

“It was a group of players that were very inexperienced and the squad of players, the injuries we’ve suffered in terms of (David) Brooks, (Junior) Stanislas, Kieffer Moore we brought in in January, who has not played and there’s been challenges.

“But the one thing about this group is they have been very resilient in that.

“Whenever we needed to produce a performance or get a result - Huddersfield away comes to mind, Swansea, last week Blackburn was a must-win game.

“The players have shown me they’ve got something, which is massive really. They deserve it.

Despite the additions of established names such as Ryan Christie and Gary Cahill, Parker has relied on a trio of youngsters from Cherries’ academy this campaign.

Mark Travers and Jaidon Anthony have both made over 40 appearances this campaign, whilst Jordan Zemura has become first-choice at left-back.

Parker even made special mention of Gavin Kilkenny, who slipped down the pecking order after arrival of Todd Cantwell and the return of Lewis Cook from injury.

Stressing the progress the academy graduates had made, Parker stated: “A young group.

“I keep saying it to everyone – Mark Travers, Jordan Zemura, Jaidon Anthony, Gavin Kilkenny, everyone has lost sight of what these boys are and what they’ve done.

“This is the first season they’ve played in the league.

“These boys have come from being rejected from Premier League football clubs, come from a category three academy and they’re having to now fight at the top of this division to try, which is a tough division, to try and get into the Premier League.

“And everyone forgets that really. I’m delighted for them.”