Long-Serving Killick Departs Poole Town

Change at the helm for The Dolphins

Another Pitching In Southern League Premier South club have parted company with their manager after Poole Town announced the departure of the long-serving Tom Killick.

The Dolphins have won three, lost two and drawn one of their six League games so far and made Emirates FA Cup progress at the expense of Barnstaple Town at the weekend.

“It has been a very difficult decision,” admitted Chairman Chris Reeves. “Tom leaves his post with his head held high against a background of 20 years of proving himself as one of, if not the, most outstanding managers that our level of the game has ever seen.

“Certainly in all my years on the board, since the late 1970s, he is without question the best.

“The decision was not taken lightly but for a number of factors the board felt that the best interests of the team were served by making a change now in the hope that the new incumbent was given the best opportunity to secure the promotion to The National League South that is so cherished.

“How do you begin to pay tribute to such a man? Since the day he was appointed, one I remember so vividly as I was just so delighted to have secured his services, he has amassed five league titles, two second place finishes, five Dorset Senior Cup triumphs, one Southern League Cup.

“So many managers spend their whole careers without ever winning anything! Tom has been a committed, passionate, inspirational presence in the dressing room and technical area for so long it is difficult to think of a Poole Town team without him as its leader.

“He has generated huge loyalty from his players and is revered and respected by so many. The number of game changing team talks he has delivered over the years run into the hundreds and so many will stay with the players who heard them for years to come I have no doubt.

“I feel privileged to have worked so closely with such a man for so long and will be forever in his debt for all the success and good times that he has brought to the club I love.

“It is my fervent hope that we will not lose touch with him as a club and that we will get the chance to honour his time with us in an appropriate manner at some point in the near future.

“He will be a tough act to follow.”

Poole head to Hayes & Yeading United in their next game before playing host to Gosport Borough.

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