Cherries chairman Bill Foley does not mince his words.

On his 78th birthday, the billionaire was making declarations of survival to assembled media, mere days after he had led Black Knight Football Entertainment’s takeover of Cherries to completion.

It was a soundbite that had the potential to give rival fans plenty of ammunition come the end of May, famous last words.

When the American made the above claim, Cherries were in 14th place, three points above the relegation zone.

They were also one game into a run of seven Premier League fixtures without a win, a sequence of results that undermined Foley’s confidence in making such a statement, just weeks after it had been made.

The bold claim had followed a bold decision – tasking rookie coach Gary O’Neil with securing Premier League safety.

As much as it was Bill Foley who promised survival, it was Gary O’Neil who delivered it.

Here’s how.

Meticulous nature the foundation

As his playing career came to an abrupt end, O’Neil looked to remain close to the game he loves.

A holder of a UEFA Pro License, O’Neil’s coaching badges were completed well in advance of his injury-enforced retirement.

Just a few days after an operation on his Achilles tendon he was helping out with Crystal Palace’s under-23s whilst on crutches.

The former Portsmouth midfielder also dipped his toes into the world of punditry, one anecdote of his appearances on television highlighting the sheer amount of preparation he put in prior, arriving on the day with a dossier of information loaded on to an iPad.

That meticulous nature is the bedrock of his coaching success. He spends long hours in his office at Dean Court, pouring over replays and reports.

Going to watch upcoming opposition in the flesh is a waste of precious time – it is far more efficient to remain in said office, using scouting tools and a “spacebar” as O’Neil himself put it, pausing and taking notes.

Hard work can be a given in football, the baseline expected of all involved in the beautiful game.

But O’Neil’s graft is notable enough to be commented on by his charges, who frequently highlight his tactical nous and attention to detail.

They have certainly bought into his ideas, O'Neil well liked and well supported by the squad.

A maxim of fighting for every centimetre has been instilled into the playing staff, the desire to swing any small margin in Cherries’ favour.

Getting team news out of O’Neil prior to a match can be like getting blood out of a stone, the head coach keen to gain any advantage possible by keeping the opposition in the dark.

He became associated with golf thanks to his obsession with the sport being publicised during his playing days, but there has been no time for a quick nine holes since he initially took charge on an interim basis.

The golf clubs collect dust as he focuses on the team he has been tasked with leading to safety.

Bouncing back from post-World Cup slump

It has not been all plain sailing. The six-game unbeaten run to start his interim spell was followed by a run of four defeats.

A lacklustre showing at home to rivals Southampton was followed by a controversial defeat at West Ham, before two capitulations against Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds left many questioning O’Neil’s suitability for the job on a permanent basis.

Two wins over Everton steadied the ship, with many expecting the 3-0 league victory at the Vitality to signal the end of O’Neil’s caretaker remit.

It did – but not in the way many expected.

The club eschewed the opportunity to appoint a big name, a proven boss, instead installing O’Neil permanently.

Premier League football paused for the World Cup, and Cherries’ season halted with it.

Nine games following the restart came and went without a win, two points earned from a possible 21 in the league.

It was a run of form that would cause concern at most clubs.

Down the road at St Mary’s, Southampton admitted their mistake in appointing Nathan Jones, the Welshman’s ill-fated reign occurring in the same timeframe as O’Neil’s rough start as permanent head coach.

Even this humble sports reporter could not ignore the baying crowds on social media, posing the question of whether Cherries should stick or twist.

That question proved rhetorical, the silence within the club deafening. There was no noise, because there was no doubt.

As boos became a more frequent occurrence, there was no kneejerk reaction at a boardroom level.

O’Neil’s future was never in doubt, even if he understood why it was being questioned.

There was no need for a vote in confidence, O’Neil backed in the transfer market.

During the January window, there were moments when O’Neil seemed to invoke the spirit of Scott Parker, the incumbent in the Cherries hotseat reiterating (in softer terms) his predecessor’s belief that the playing squad at the Vitality required strengthening.

Foley promised multiple signings in January, and sure enough reinforcements arrived.

Six new faces came in the door, all better suited to the style of play being implemented.

Even before the window closed there were signs of improvement, aspects to build on.

Dango Ouattara was dropped straight into the action against Nottingham Forest, Cherries pegged back late on by former striker Sam Surridge.

High-flying Brighton were pushed all the way, before further late heartbreak.

Improvement in football is not always linear.

A solid draw at home to Newcastle was followed by a ground-out win away at Wolves, but then Cherries came up against the two teams locked into the title race.

Cherries asked questions of Manchester City, but found no answers as they were beaten 4-1.

A trip to the Emirates saw Cherries collapse for a third time after taking a two-goal lead, Arsenal’s dominance eventually coming to the fore in the 97th minute.

Even the headline-clinching victory over Liverpool was tempered by a poor display away at Villa Park, losing 3-0 to Aston Villa.

Getting the job done early

April had been billed as a massive month for Cherries’ survival bid.

That was always going to be the case when it became apparent that four of their opponents in that month were in a similar position to Cherries.

It was a litmus test of their credentials, with a good month ensuring they entered the final weeks of the season in touching distance of survival.

A danger of being cut adrift existed if results could not be found, but those fears now feel like a lifetime away.

An improved second-half performance was enough to overcome top-half Fulham 2-1, although it seemed like Cherries had found a rhythm of winning a game, then losing one as they fell to Brighton for a second time.

O’Neil pointed out that sequence of results would likely keep Cherries up.

Rather than test that theory, Cherries came into their own.

They went to the King Power and silenced Leicester, quietening the Foxes faithful in the process.

A topsy-turvy clash at Tottenham Hotspur yielded a historic win, Ouattara’s first goal for the club snatching all three points and the first back-to-back wins of the league campaign.

April ended with a gauntlet of fixtures, three relegation rivals to play in the span of eight days.

Vulnerabilities at set-pieces reared their head again in the tonking dished out by West Ham at the Vitality, the biggest blot on an otherwise brilliant record for April.

There was no time to go away and lick their wounds.

A trip across the New Forest saw Cherries defeat rivals Southampton, Marcus Tavernier’s winner a double-edged sword that arguably secured survival whilst putting the final nail in the coffin of Saints’ survival hopes.

Then it was back to Dean Court to face Leeds United, the perfect opportunity to go just shy of the fabled 40-point mark.

Cherries had saved the best till last, cruising to a 4-1 win that as good as secured safety.

Out of a possible 21 points, Cherries had 15, setting a new club record for Premier League wins in a single month.

Unafraid to make big calls

Perhaps boldness can define Cherries’ season.

Boldness to sack Scott Parker after just four Premier League games, boldness to wait as long as possible before selecting a permanent replacement.

Boldness to appoint O’Neil, boldness to declare safety in December.

That boldness can be seen in some of the head coach’s decisions.

Lloyd Kelly had struggled with injury all campaign.

Named captain by Parker last term the Bristolian was young for a skipper at 23.

In his absence, vice-captain Adam Smith had donned the armband.

It was a surprise then to see goalkeeper Neto wear it when Cherries travelled to Brighton in February, with Smith also starting the game.

The following week, O’Neil confirmed that the Brazilian had been appointed club captain, Smith remaining as his vice.

It was not an arbitrary decision, a calculated move to stamp down his authority.

Instead, it was a move of unity, the experienced Neto able to bridge the language barriers that had started to form in the dressing room following the influx of new players in January.

There was no doubting Kelly’s leadership credentials and ability, the defender remaining a key part of the team.

It moved the spotlight away from the 24-year-old, and allowed him to focus on his game.

O’Neil’s trust in Kelly is obvious, bringing him straight back into the starting XI on his return from injury.

In fact, Kelly’s return to the side coincided with another big decision made by O’Neil.

When Liverpool arrived on the south coast, there was a surprise to see Jordan Zemura completely omitted from the squad.

News then broke that he was not injured, but instead being exiled for a reason.

It has since transpired that the left-back had failed to respond to contract offers from the club, and with his deal expiring this summer, the writing was on the wall.

Described as an “internal decision”, O’Neil was consulted and agreed with the decision to leave the Zimbabwean international out of his plans.

Out of the blue, it was announced that Zemura had agreed a pre-contract with Serie A outfit Udinese, signalling an end to his four-year association with Cherries.

The defender was then sent to train with the development squad, O’Neil not wanting any distractions from those not focused on the task at hand.

Gamble on a rookie paid off

The Cherries hierarchy kept a tight lid on the potential names linked to the head coach vacancy. In the end, the only concrete links were to two men – legendary Argentinian boss Marcelo Bielsa, and Gary O’Neil.

Straight away, a huge contrast between the two is obvious – Bielsa a renowned coach with decades of experience, O’Neil at the time just over the double-figure mark for games managed.

Fans questioned why a survival specialist was not being headhunted.

Sean Dyche was out of work, Everton the relegation-threatened club to spring for the former Burnley manager.

Dyche may yet keep the Toffees up, but he has not provided the guaranteed survival he was touted to bring to Merseyside.

Yes, Cherries are not yet mathematically safe, but it would require most of the seven teams below them to turn into world beaters overnight.

This season’s relegation battle has been well documented as a tight fight, little breathing room to be found at the bottom.

But entering the final month of the campaign, Cherries are breathing fresh air in comparison to the polluted smog suffocating those further down.

It could have been different. Cherries merely could have hung on for dear life and hoped those around them failed to pick up points, to be the best of a bad bunch.

Five does not go into three, and by grace of there being worse teams in the division, two of Leeds, Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester will somehow avoid the drop.

Even Southampton, who have been circling the drain for what seems like months, are not relegated yet.

That final day trip to Goodison Park could have been nerve wracking, a nightmarish reshowing of the last time Cherries dropped from the topflight.

Instead Cherries can watch the remaining teams scrap it out, popcorn in hand with little concern.

With four games to go, it is job done. And what a job O’Neil has done.

(Pictures: Richard Crease, PA Images, and Stuart Martin)