Despite a burning ambition to win, and a track record to back it, Poole Town boss Tom Killick is remaining coy about his side’s chances in the Southern League Premier South.
In a division with plenty of big hitters, Dolphins have held their own – floating to 6th place in the embryonic league table.
Despite decent results against fellow promotion rivals, Killick is refusing to reveal his predictions for the rest of the season.
Speaking to All Poole Aren’t We, Killick stated: “It’s far too early to say [where we might end up.]
“Because we carry such a small squad, and we’ve got certain key players that we’d struggle to be without for long periods, we need a bit of a following wind in terms of that.
“I was looking at Salisbury, they’ve got a few back now, but they had a number of players out the other week, we wouldn’t have been able to put out a team.
“They’ve signed a few to help out, and they can keep on doing that. If they’ve got 10 out, they’ll sign another five. They can afford to do that.
“Where we’ve got smaller numbers, we need a little bit of luck with injuries and availabilities. So, fingers crossed things will go our way in relation to that.
“If they do, I think we can mount a challenge in terms of those top places.”
Killick has been looking to supplement his barebones squad with one or two extra bodies.
Poole have the fewest registered players in the division with just 20 on the books – which includes assistant manager Micky Hubbard.
AFC Bournemouth youngster Euan Pollock became the first U18 player available for loan, but Killick revealled he did not make a move for the striker.
“There’s always a balance between it being a right move for the player and a right move us,” explained Killick.
“If they’re going to send players out, there’s an expectation that they’re going to play regularly enough, so you can’t say to them ‘oh can we have so-so’ and then stick them on the bench.
“The lad that’s gone to Truro [Ethan Pollock], I was aware of him. I’m sure he would have done us a bit of good, if Tony keeps on playing the way he is, and I’ve got Will Fletcher who I think a lot of, it would be a bit of a slap in the face to Will.
“Do I just take him [Pollock] and not really worry about the consequences? Sometimes you have to do what is right.
“If I end up taking him and not playing him much, then the relationship with Bournemouth is damaged, there’s a lot of things that have to be considered. I’m not saying he would have chosen us over Truro anyway, but that’s why that particular deal wasn’t pursued by us.”
Killick still remains in constant contact with former players Shaun Cooper and Alan Connell, who now manage Bournemouth’s youth sides.
“There has to be a consensus where they feel it is right for the player, the player thinks it’s right for him, and we are confident that we are going to give that player enough game time.”
“As of yet, there hasn’t been anything that fitted well. Then, as you would expect, there are a lot of clubs, sometimes from a higher level, that are trying to get the same players.
“Often, if the club is at a higher level, they end up taking precedent. We’re still keen on bringing in one or two if we could, and we’d love to get one or two in from Bournemouth if we could, but whether that happens now, I don’t know.
“We just have to keep it under review.”
All Poole Aren't We 