DORCHESTER Town boss Phil Simkin has backed former foe Tom Killick to bring out the best in prolific striker Warren Byerley.

Simkin believes both the Magpies and Poole Town are benefiting from Byerley moving to Tatnam on a short-term dual registration basis.

The 27-year-old has proved an astute signing for the Dolphins so far and his goal helped them defeat promotion rivals Merthyr Town on Saturday.

Simkin hinted that he would recall Byerley once he has completed his initial one-month spell with the Division One South & West big guns.

But he insists Byerley will reap the rewards of a morale-boosting stint at step four before testing himself at Conference South level.

Simkin, who managed the frontman during his time in charge of Hamworthy United, told the Daily Echo: “He needed to play at a decent level. By going to Poole, he is going to do that and also help out Tom. I knew he would score goals. He just needs to be match fit.

“I believe Warren can score goals at our level but he has to be tip-top fit to do it. That was the reason we sent him out.

“I knew Tom would look after him, that Poole are a good side and that it would make him fit and rebuild his confidence.

“We may have been rivals, sometimes bitter rivals, in the Wessex League, but I have got a lot of respect for what Tom has done. I am doing him a favour and he is doing me one.”

Simkin, who signed Byerley after he had been a full-time professional with crisis-hit Kettering, added: “We initially agreed on a month which I am quite happy to go along with. It is a case of where we are and where Warren is when that time is up.

“It is a good deal for Tom and me because Warren is scoring goals and getting match fit at a good level. There will be a time, not too long from now, that he comes back.”

Byerley was on target in the second half as Poole claimed a last-gasp 3-2 home victory over 10-man Merthyr.

Former Cherries trainee Luke Burbidge fired Poole into a ninth-minute lead before Stevie Williams was sent off for halting Carl Preston as he broke through on goal. The Merthyr captain took to social networking website Twitter to describe it as “the softest red card I’ve ever had”.

Playing with a numerical disadvantage for 77 minutes, Merthyr equalised through Ian Traylor nine minutes after the interval, only for Byerley to almost immediately restore the Poole lead.

Matthew Harris looked to have earned a draw for the visitors before Dolphins skipper Michael Walker had the final say two minutes from time.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Clarke, Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Howes, Burbidge (Wright, 81), Devlin, Byerley, Preston, Kelly (Wilson, 72). Unused subs: Dibba, Baines, Richardson.