CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe says he is determined to leave a “lasting legacy” at Dean Court after committing his long-term future to the club.

Howe and assistant Jason Tindall have both signed two-year contract extensions, tying them to the Dorset outfit at least until the summer of 2018.

The duo first came together in January 2009 and helped preserve Cherries’ Football League status before masterminding promotion the following season.

And after a 21-month spell at Burnley, they returned in October 2012 to oversee a dramatic revival which saw Cherries reclaim a place in the second tier for the first time in 23 years.

Howe, whose extension does not include a pay rise, told the Daily Echo: “When I was approached by the club, I had no doubts about extending my contract. I have established a great relationship with the people here and I can’t speak highly enough of Max Demin, Neill Blake and Jeff Mostyn. We form a really good team and share the same vision on a lot of things which is so important.

“Max wants us to play entertaining and attractive football and, hopefully, we are providing that. He is very ambitious and wants to move the club forward. We want to do likewise and feel we have a good understanding. When he came to us about the extension, we had no hesitation in signing.”

Howe, who has struck up an excellent working relationship with Russian owner Demin, was understood to have been the subject of interest from two Premier League clubs earlier this season.

However, the 36-year-old always maintained he would be keen to help repay Demin’s commitment to Cherries and said he had no plans to leave the club of his own accord.

Asked by the Daily Echo where he hoped Cherries would be in 2018, Howe replied: “That is a difficult question because football can change so quickly. We know where we would like to be and I know where Max and every supporter want us to be but only time will tell whether or not it happens.

“The contract doesn’t change anything but it is nice to know we are going to have a chance to build and plan something long term. I haven’t stayed in a job long enough to leave a lasting legacy and that is what I would like to do here, if I get the results to remain in the job. That is going to be key from my perspective.

“Pressure is something you cannot escape in this profession. I don’t want to be here and just tick a box and do okay. I am here to try to win.

“If you receive a setback then you have to adjust and come back stronger. The desire burns in me as strongly as it always has so if there is pressure there then you have to accept it.”

Asked about his relationship with Demin, Howe said: “Nobody should be in any doubt about what he has done for this club, about how much investment he has made or about his drive and commitment to the club. He has been a real support to me in the job.

“I know some foreign owners can get a bad reputation but I would say the contrary to any common misconceptions. It is the most important relationship in any club and, hopefully, it remains strong and we can go forward together.

“It goes without saying we are where we are because of Max’s investment and you can only go so far with no money. With the income we receive, we shouldn’t be at this level but with added investment we have managed to get here. Max deserves all the credit and, hopefully our supporters are enjoying these days because we shouldn’t take where we are for granted. We want to move on and that is our next challenge.”

Eddie Howe’s managerial stats with Cherries (league only)

2008-09 – 21 games in L2 (W12, D3, L6)

2009-10 – 46 games in L2 (W25, D8, L13)

2010-11 – 24 games in L1 (W11, D6, L7)

2012-13 – 35 games in L1 (W23, D6, L6)

2013-14 – 37 games in Champ (W13, D10, L14)

Total

League Two – 67 games, W37, D11, L19

League One – 59 games, W34, D12, L13

Championship – 37 games, W13, D10, L14

All divisions – 163 games, W84, D33, L46