Tom Killick labelled the appointment of his former player Glenn Howes at Dorchester as ‘well deserved’ but refused to take any credit for the ex-midfielder rising up the managerial ranks so quickly.
Alongside Howes in the Dorchester dug-out will be James Wood, who was Tom Killick’s right hand man for four seasons.
Howes, who alongside Carl Poore, Franklyn Clarke and Oliver Cherrett (who all also coincidentally played for Dorchester) have gone on to management after playing under Killick, but the stalwart Poole boss believes it is just coincidence.
He told All Poole Aren’t We: “I don’t know whether it is because they feel after experiencing my management they couldn’t do any worse!
“I wouldn’t say I’m proud, because I wouldn’t feel it’s my place to be proud of him, I’m just pleased for him really.
“I just feel its an excellent appointment. He’s someone I speak to regularly.
“I think he’s a great lad, as I say he was probably forced to go into management sooner than he would have wanted, but that can help you in that when you look at the age and how much experience he has already got.
“If there is a sort of positive side to that, having your career ended prematurely, you do get a headstart in terms of management.”
With his career cruely ended by an awful challenge sustained against Merthyr Town in 2013, Poole rallied around Howes to finish the season as Dorset Senior Cup and Southern League Division Once South & West champions, boasting shirts stating ‘Do it for Howesey.’
“Glenn Howes is someone I’ve always had a soft spot for really,” continued Killick.
“Clearly, there was a huge sadness around the club when he suffered the injury he did. I feel to give up his playing career prematurely effectively forced him to go into management.
“But to do it in such an impressive style, he deserves an awful lot of credit. I would always feel for a job like Dorchester he would be a standout candidate, when you look what he achieved initially at Blackfield [& Langely] and now Totton.
“I think it’s well deserved and I think Dorchester have got themselves a very, very good manager.
“When I read some of the names that were linked with the job and then you look at someone like Glenn, I feel he’s head and shoulders above what I understood the other candidates were.
“I do feel the age he is with a job like Dorchester, I feel he could do quite well and potentially, if he does, he could kick-on again.”
All Poole Aren't We 