NEW boss Andoni Iraola refused to be drawn on what he hopes to achieve during his first season with the club.

Despite avoiding relegation in their first season back in the top flight, finishing 15th, Gary O’Neil was relieved of his duties and replaced by Iraola.

With the change of head coach and promise of transfer activity this summer from owner Bill Foley, expectations are beginning to rise among sections of the fanbase at what could be possible for the club this season.

But Iraola was keen to not look too far into the future, but instead the first two games of the Premier League campaign against West Ham United and Liverpool.

Asked if finishing 17th would be seen as a successful campaign for Cherries, Iraola said: “I don’t believe too much in long-term goals.

“I am more focused on we play West Ham, let’s get prepared, we play at Anfield, let’s get prepared.

“At the end we have to be realistic. It’s true that probably the main goal will be that next season we are again in the Premier League.

“But I am much more concerned about how we are going to do it, how we are going to play, how we are going to improve the team.

“We will take it game by game. Let’s stay prepared.

“Long-term goals, if you don’t start the season well, the goal will be to remain (in the league). If you start very well then you start thinking about other goals.

“I feel that it is much more logical to take it game by game.”

Asked if he feels this job at Cherries is the biggest challenge of his career, the former Rayo Vallecano boss said: “Yes, I think so. Because of the different country, the language, the league, the coaches I will face, the teams we will play against. Probably it is.

“It is very exciting. I am looking forward to playing against certain teams.

“I am sure it is going to be tough, but we have to be sure that we arrive prepared for those games.”