POOLE Town have completed the signing of Dorchester Town legend Mark Jermyn on a one-year contract.

The 33-year-old defender or midfielder played more than 600 times during 13 seasons with the Magpies and became the club’s record appearance maker in September last year.

Jermyn, equally adept at centre-half, right-back or in central midfield, has spent much of his career in non-league’s second tier and rejected the offer of a new deal with Dorchester.

The transfer coup was declared as a signal of intent by Poole manager Tom Killick ahead of an anticipated push for promotion to the Conference South.

Discussing Jermyn's attributes, Killick told the Daily Echo: “He’s a strong character, a good leader and has vast experience of playing at a higher level for a number of years.

“Mark was widely regarded as one of Dorchester’s better players and his influence will do us a lot of good because our need for people with knowhow and the right mentality was not lost on me.

“I was surprised I got the opportunity to sign him. He was disheartened by a few things at Dorchester but their loss was most certainly our gain.”

Winger Carl Preston and goalkeeper Nick Hutchings have agreed new one-year deals at Tatnam, while Luke Burbidge has committed his future to the club.

However, fellow wideman Jon Davies will be leaving Poole and is expected to find a club closer to his Trowbridge home.