HIGHLY-rated Poole Town ace Will Spetch has set his sights on gaining a place in the professional ranks and believes he is “ready” for the step up.

The versatile defender has attracted the attention of a host of Football League clubs after turning in a series of eye-catching displays for the Dolphins in the Southern League.

Spetch, who had an unsuccessful trial with Cherries two years ago, has been watched by scouts from Portsmouth, Exeter and Forest Green Rovers in recent weeks.

The 22-year-old told the Daily Echo: “I would love to go to any full-time club and just to play the game professionally would be great.

“If you are playing at this level, it is every boy’s dream to be in the Football League. Anybody my age would want to play higher.”

Spetch, who has progressed through the ranks at Poole having started out with hometown club Swanage Town & Herston, is looking to tread the path taken by former team-mate Charlie Austin, currently at Championship outfit QPR.

He turned in another stand-out performance when he added to his goal tally during Poole’s FA Trophy extra-time victory against Frome on Saturday.

Spetch believes he has grown considerably as a player thanks to the support given to him by the club’s coaching staff – boss Tom Killick, assistant James Wood and player-coach Taffy Richardson – and former team-mate Michael Walker, now at Weymouth.

He added: “I feel I am ready to make the step up and a big part of that is down to Tom, Woodsy, Taffy and Michael Walker.

“I have developed a hell of a lot since I had a trial at Bournemouth two years ago and, if I get the chance, I will take it and I will try my best.

"Poole have done so much for me and a lot of players don’t realise what is done behind the scenes to run a club like this. Hopefully, in five to 10 years, it will be a big club.”

Spetch will tonight turn his attentions to Poole’s FA Trophy second qualifying round tie at Arlesey Town who currently sit ninth in the Southern League, three places below the Dolphins.

Poole welcome back Cherries loanee Jordan Chiedozie after he was ineligible for the previous round, while boss Killick could hand a start to frontman Michael Charles who got through 75 minutes against Frome after recovering from a knee injury.

The winners of the tie will earn £3,250 in prize money and a home clash with Southern League Central outfit Marlow in the next round.

Dolphins: (from) Hutchings, Brooks, Spetch, Cummings, Whisken, Pettefer, Davies, Dibba, Devlin, Byerley, Charles, Preston, Elliott, Cann, Chiedozie, Richardson, Thomas.