MAXIM Demin has issued an open letter to Cherries supporters, after his 11-year association with the club came to an end.

Demin has sold his 100 per cent stake in the club to Black Knight Football and Entertainment, headed up by American businessman Bill Foley.

And Demin has now issued a rare statement as he bids farewell to a club who look vastly different to the one he first encountered.

The message, published on Cherries' website, reads: 

When I first visited a Bournemouth home game in League 2, I never dreamt that I would end up owning the football club. What started as a passion turned into a bit of an obsession, as football has a tendency to do. I quickly realised that, with a bit of commitment, we could achieve something special with this club. And we did.

My thanks go to the club’s senior management who have advised me and the hundreds of staff – many of whom have been with the club prior to my tenure – who continue to work so hard behind the scenes. I would also like to thank the players and managers who have helped make my time with the club so special.

I have so many fantastic memories of my time with AFC Bournemouth that I will cherish forever, and it goes without saying our first promotion to the Premier League under Eddie Howe will always stand out. 

In the summer of 2020, following our relegation from the Premier League, I pledged my commitment to taking AFC Bournemouth back to the highest level. I am delighted that we managed to do that just two years later.

Now, with the right foundations in place for the club to re-establish itself in the place where it belongs, the time is right for me to step away and allow new owners to lead the club into an exciting new era.

I was fully aware of Bill Foley’s intentions for the club from the outset and I am very confident that its future is in safe hands. Though this has been a very difficult decision for me to sell, Bill’s expertise, commitment and vision gives me great peace of mind. 

No organisation is bigger than the sum of its parts, and so much of this club’s success has been driven by collaboration both on and off the pitch – something I’m sure will continue as its ownership changes hands.

Togetherness, inclusivity, and its power to unite the local community make this a truly unique football club, and one which I am extremely proud to have owned for nearly eleven years.

Though I am moving on, I will always be a passionate AFC Bournemouth supporter and am excited to continue watching the club in the Premier League this season and hopefully for many years to come. 

I would like to wish Bill, the management, the players, staff and supporters all the very best for the rest of this season and beyond.  

Have fun and Up the Cherries! Always!