INTERIM head coach Gary O'Neil insists Cherries' squad "have enough to be competitive at this level", despite what former boss Scott Parker said over the weekend.

Parker repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction at the lack of depth within Cherries' squad following promotion to the Premier League.

That all came to a head after Saturday's 9-0 crushing at Liverpool on Saturday, which ultimately saw Parker lose his job on Tuesday.

Cherries improved to pick up a point with a 0-0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening, with O'Neil at the helm for the first time.

Asked after the game if he agreed with Parker that this current squad was not sufficient to compete in the Premier League, O'Neil said: "As a group, they’re the most honest, hard-working, together, relentless group that I’ve ever been involved with. Even in my playing career.

"You can throw everything at them and they’ll never quit. I think we have enough to be competitive at this level, yes."

He added: "Holding on for the point obviously was big. But I don’t think it was even the point. I think it was the togetherness and the performance and how hard they work and how they dug in together that gives them a real feeling of satisfaction and that they have achieved something together, from a tough place at the weekend that wasn’t easy for anybody.

"I’ve been there as a player, you go through moments that are tough.

"The good thing with football is you always get a chance to respond in the next game. It was key that we did and we’ve started that.

"My underlying feeling is really proud of what they’ve given out there.

"I’ve only been with them a day and a bit and asked them to produce something like and them to manage to produce it, I’m very proud of what they produced."

Discussing what his main message to the group has been this week since taking over, the former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough midfielder said: "We tried to go through some bits that we thought would help us (against Wolves), but mainly around the resilience, the togetherness, the response, the results we’ve had and what a great opportunity (Wednesday) was to show everybody that we’re still together and that we can put in performances and bounce back from tough situations."

He added: "It was a tough result at the weekend, changes in the week, to be able to come out and show the fans, who were excellent as well by the way, that we’re still together and the boys were willing to give everything and fight and put their bodies on the line was a big positive for us."