Eddie Howe said Bournemouth can use the example of Swansea City when their attempt to consolidate in the Premier League begins next week after a six-year rise from near-extinction to the top flight.

“We have analysed a lot of the clubs that have got promoted, what they have done and how they have gone about their work,” Howe said. “We have tried to follow our principles — and that’s more important than anyone else — but I would say we are more related to Swansea than anyone else because of the style of our football.

“That’s not to say we have followed their blueprint, but there are similarities between the clubs, especially with their history and ours. Hopefully we can emulate what they have done.”

This has been a summer of relentless work at Bournemouth’s renamed Vitality Stadium, the fruits of which are visible in a newly constructed two-tier ‘pavilion’ in which club facilities, previously dotted around the ground, are now integrated.

There are new dressing rooms and Howe, who expects to add to his six signings, feels that the atmosphere within them will be as important in attracting more players as any financial considerations.

“Our recruitment techniques come down to not really focusing on the size of the club,” the manager said. “It’s all about what we can offer players, which I think is a really good environment and total dedication to their profession, trying to develop them and give them a great stage to show how good they can be.

“We need to look at it from a different angle. Of course the finances are difficult for us. When we are competing [to sign players] against other clubs we will lose, so that’s where the other factors become so important in trying to attract players here.”

Bournemouth’s prudent approach is underpinned by the funds made available by their owner, Maxim Demin, and signing — among others — Tyrone Mings from Ipswich Town for £8 million (Dh45.63 million) suggests they can pack a reasonable enough punch.

Howe says refreshing a squad who ran away to promotion with 90 points is one of the tougher aspects of his job, but believes the ends will justify the means.

“Change is always difficult,” he said. “In an ideal world you would carry on with the players who have come through with you, but that’s not always possible. It’s healthy to change the dynamic of the squad and important that, when the players come back, they see new faces. I have been pleased with how the new players have adjusted to what we ask of them.

“We have looked to strengthen all areas of the pitch and will continue to. We had a good base to start from, a good core that have stuck together and, if we can add bits of quality around those players, I’m sure they can take us to another level.”

The biggest demand of all will be Premier League survival and Howe is encouraged by the manner in which his players performed in cup ties against Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion — defeating the latter — last season.

“We are well aware of what is in store,” he said. “It’s going to be a huge test of everyone’s resilience and ability but I would not say we are unaware of what we are going into.

“I certainly don’t think it is unbridgeable. We wouldn’t go into the task with that mindset. Looking back, those cup games were really important for us because we changed the team a lot and still those 11 players competed, and showed we do have strength in depth. We are going to need that this season, so that strengthened our belief further that we can compete.”

— Guardian News & Media Ltd.