Cherries 6-5 to survive in Premier League
BOURNEMOUTH are preparing for life in the top flight for the first time in their history but bookmakers are divided over their prospects of an extended stay in the Premier League.
One more point is required to mathematically rubber-stamp Bournemouth's place among the elite but the celebrations began after Monday's 3-0 victory at home to Bolton, which lifted the Cherries three points above Middlesbrough, whose goal difference is 19 goals inferior.
Ladbrokes take a positive view about Bournemouth's survival chances, making them 4-6 to stay up and 11-10 to go down. Coral are the most pessimistic, offering 6-5 that they survive and 8-13 they don't.
Bet365 go 7-2 that both Bournemouth and Watford are relegated and make the Cherries 7-1 for a top-half finish.
Eddie Howe's stock is at an all-time high.
He is 8-1 with Hills to manage England at some time before 2030 and 25-1 to be Roy Hodgson's replacement.