Absolute confidence that the club would stay in the Premier League after the 2022/23 season was coupled with adamant statements that the Cherries would be playing European football within five years.
They stayed in the league, as Gary O’Neil took the team to a 15th place finish and safety.
But, to the shock of many in the fanbase and the wider football world, O’Neil was sacked and Andoni Iraola appointed – a relative unknown to anyone who did not watch plenty of Spanish football.
But Foley and the Cherries hierarchy were rewarded as Iraola has led them to three consecutive record points hauls and, a year-and-a-half ahead of schedule, a first European qualification, with Bournemouth to play in the Europa League next season.
(Image: Richard Crease)
Iraola departs the club this summer and he’ll be replaced by Marco Rose, and he leaves the club, on the pitch, in its best-ever place.
Off pitch, the club is making club history, too.
Foley has invested in and fast-tracked the club’s training ground project, with the new state of the art facilities opened officially by the American in April 2025.
The first team moved in shortly before then, and have had a full season of the benefits of the new performance centre.
Once that was completed, the focus turned to the Vitality Stadium.
At the opening ceremony of the new training ground, Foley confirmed the club had finalised the purchase of the stadium, the club’s ancestral home after speculation they could look to build a new ground elsewhere.
But the club wanted to stay at Dean Court and redevelop it and plans quickly progressed.
The planning application for the enabling works at the stadium got the project off the ground and underway when it was approved in January, as the full application for the expansion was lodged.
That latter application was approved last week by BCP Council’s eastern BCP planning committee by a unanimous vote, signalling the next step in the club’s progression.
(Image: Richard Crease)
While there have been moves that have not gone down well with the fanbase, too, like the moving of season ticket holders to fit in more hospitality for the start of next season, Foley has helped the club to progress, investing in infrastructure and on the pitch.
President of business operations, Jim Frevola, had worked closely with Foley at the Vegas Golden Knights ice hockey team, before he was brought to Bournemouth.
He was full of praise for the owner, and told the Daily Echo: “I've worked with Bill for going on ten years now, dating back to my time in Vegas with the Golden Knights.
(Image: AFC Bournemouth/Stadium Structures/Savills)
“I've said this before and I'll say it for every single day I work for the guy: He's one of the best owners in sports.
“He means what he says. He cares about his people. He cares about his people more than any owner I've ever seen. The business staff, the playing staff, the coaching staff.
“He's a believer in the town and the guy's a winner. The guy wins everything he touches. He wins. And he's trying to do it the right way as well. He's an honourable guy.
“This club and town are lucky to have an owner like Bill Foley. And it's been a privilege for me to work for him.”