EDDIE Mitchell insists Cherries’ owners have kept their part of the bargain by delivering an exciting squad – and is urging the Bournemouth public to start matching the club’s ambition.

Mitchell’s comments came after Cherries yesterday put the finishing touches to their rebuilding by signing Donal McDermott, the seventh new addition during the transfer window.

McDermott, who served Cherries on loan from Manchester City last season, penned a three-and-a-half year deal after the club had agreed a fee of around £175,000 with Huddersfield.

The Irishman followed permanent signings Matt Tubbs, Scott Malone, Wes Thomas, Charlie Daniels, Simon Francis and Steve Cook, taking Cherries’ spending to around £1.6m in January.

Chairman Mitchell and wealthy Russian business partner Maxim Demin have presided over a dramatic transformation in Cherries’ fortunes since joining forces just five months ago.

Asked by the Daily Echo from where the funds had come, Mitchell replied: “From within the club. The club belongs to the supporters – and myself and Max are managing it. We have found good fortune to have investment to spend on players and, providing the supporters back us and come in numbers, they will get better football.

“We have got to bring in more supporters. We have a bigger conurbation than a lot of Championship clubs and need to get people through the turnstiles. That would enable us to build the fourth stand and help us continue to go through the leagues.

“We have done our bit but have got a lot more to do. We want encouragement to do more and to see bigger gates would give us that encouragement.

“It is probably far-fetched to talk of anything above going into the Championship but I have always aimed as high as possible and nothing is impossible. We have got the will, the investment and the drive, but we just haven’t got enough support.”

Mitchell expressed delight at managing to keep Lee Bradbury’s squad intact after revealing there had been “interest” in some of the club’s prize assets.

“But it went nowhere,” added Mitchell. “There were no players knocking on the door wanting to leave. The club is financially sound and going in the right direction. We have better facilities and it is a very steady ship. Everybody in the dressing room is 100 per cent behind the club and their best shot of getting into the Championship is with us.”

Discussing McDermott’s acquisition, Mitchell said: “We are very pleased because we thought he was out of the frame.

“We went for him two weeks ago and the talk was of £750,000 but we managed to secure him for far less than that and it was worth the wait.

“We were great admirers of what he did last season. He is a good asset to the club, he is young and can only get better.”