Eleven years on, Eddie Howe needs to be Bournemouth’s miracle man again

This weekend marks the 11th anniversary of Howe becoming Bournemouth’s permanent manager – and for the first time, his position isn’t concrete at the club

Eddie Howe is facing one of the toughest spells of his career (PA)

“What we saw was someone who we already employed. And not for a lot of money.”

Chairman Jeff Mostyn’s honesty as to why Eddie Howe was given the Bournemouth job on a permanent basis is a reminder of how different the definition of “crisis” is for the club 11 years on from that decision.

The south-coast outfit had a 17-point financial mismanagement deficit, were positioned 91st out of the 92 clubs in England’s top-four divisions, had the genuine threat of being disbanded, and could not make the rent for the training facility or pay players when they were forced into that managerial gamble.

Bournemouth have scaled so many setbacks and shifted such a distance that their new critical point is having their Premier League status under threat.

That their reality is so divergent from what it was is owed to Howe, who at 31 became the youngest manager in the Football League when he was placed in permanent charge on 19 January 2009.

And sure, the financial backing which followed two years later from owner Maxim Demin has been of great help, but those with intimate knowledge of how Bournemouth went from what Mostyn labelled the “edge of the abyss” to an English top-flight team in six years – remaining one ever since – testify there is a sole saviour.

Bournemouth’s identity is intrinsically linked to Howe. Everything at the club has his fingerprints on it, from their progressive style to the player analysis centre at Vitality Stadium.

Bar a 21-month spell at Burnley between 2011 and 2012, the club’s former defender, scout and youth coach has shaped their very essence for over a decade.

It jars somewhat to then have to wonder whether Bournemouth, having slipped from seventh after beating Manchester United in November to 19th after collecting just four points from the last 33 available, have to consider Howe’s position.

“One result never dictates your season – but a group of results does,” the manager himself admitted after a 3-0 home defeat by Wolves.

And a run that has led to their residence in the relegation zone for the first time in more than two years certainly warrants concern.

The Independent has been told there is no loss of confidence in Howe’s managerial ability at Vitality Stadium given he has been contending with the worst injury situation in the league.

They are also aware he has quietly batted away several approaches for his services over the past three years, never leaking nor publicly indulging any link.

Howe has taken pride in moulding Bournemouth, but there is now a state of decay and the club have an appreciation of the severity of the situation.

Bournemouth travel to Norwich on Saturday in a must-win match against the only side below them in the table. It marks the 11th anniversary of Howe’s permanent appointment and the juncture where there is no longer margin for error.

The club have financially flexed “with the aim of maintaining Premier League status” as their annual accounts from last March stated.

The wage bill has breached the £100 million barrier, the 57-acre former Canford Magna Golf Club has been purchased to develop a new training complex.

Eddie Howe’s men are currently caught in a downward spiral (AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

As chief executive Neill Blake admitted there has been “targeted expenditure on assets and expertise in the playing squad and supporting infrastructure” in an effort to keep Bournemouth in the top-flight.

The club have spent considerably on recruitment, but not always intelligently, and it will sting that Tyrone Mings and Lys Mousset – two of last summer’s outgoings – have been so influential at Aston Villa and Sheffield United respectively.

Missteps in the transfer market coupled with underperformance from long-serving players and having 10 of his squad sidelined has given Howe an almighty mess to tidy up.

Bournemouth believe he is still the man to that, supporters mostly agree and there has been no dressing room unrest.

One of Howe’s great talents has been arresting god-awful form, and the challenge now is to resuscitate the team’s confidence and creative output.

Having previously told this writer that “fighting to win football matches was a lot easier than fighting to guard our existence as a club,” Howe is now in combat again to preserve their Premier League status.

Regardless of whether he achieves that or not, Bournemouth should start prepping for life without their miracle man so his eventual departure doesn’t severely debilitate them.

And Howe, having given so much of himself to the club across so many roles since 1994, needs to actually think about leaving the place he so loves because it might ultimately be best for both parties.