HOTSHOT Michael Charles set his sights on firing Poole Town to promotion after buying into the club’s ambitious plans.

Charles revealed he had turned down the chance to move to higher-level outfit Gosport Borough in order to boost Dolphins’ title quest.

The ex-Farnborough, Woking and AFC Totton striker this week agreed an 18-month contract to join Poole for a nominal fee from Winchester City.

Poole boss Tom Killick and vice-chairman Chris Reeves persuaded the frontman to move to Tatnam after holding transfer talks on Tuesday.

Proven performer Charles has netted nine times for Poole’s Southern League rivals City this term and is among the leading goalscorers in Division One South & West.

The Camberley-based 25-year-old is determined to continue that form as he bids to propel promotion-chasing Poole into the Premier Division.

Discussing the club’s aims, Charles told the Daily Echo: “I think it is promotion and that is what I want to help them with – a bit of firepower to get them promoted.

“It is just about finding the right club to move forward with and I think Poole Town will be the club.”

Charles, who is set to make his Dolphins debut at Abingdon United tomorrow (3pm), added: “It is a great club with great ambition. Gosport Borough were involved and nearly had it but when Poole came in, with the ambition, it was easy.

“Tom was very keen and very excited to get me in and you can just see where they are and what their ambition is.

“It is a bit like when I joined AFC Totton in this league. They had ambition and look what they did that season and the season after. It is exciting to be involved.”

Charles had penned a 12-month deal with Winchester City in the summer after leaving AFC Totton where he had scored 44 goals in 80 appearances.

Manager Killick said: “To get someone of his quality and with his track record is a real boost for us. He is a very good finisher, he gets in good positions and I am hoping he will score goals for us.”

Dolphins’ Will Spetch serves the final game of a two-match ban, but fellow defender Lamin Dibba is available following suspension.

Dolphins: (from) Hutchings, Baines, Clarke, Emmerson, Walker, Dibba, Howes, Richardson, Burbidge, Devlin, Lamalli, Byerley, S Brown, Preston, Brooks, Kelly, Charles, T Brown.

Wimborne Town, meanwhile, will be without Shaun Brian when they host Merthyr Town at Cuthbury tomorrow (3pm).

Brian sustained an ankle injury in the 3-1 defeat to Mangotsfield United and is facing a spell on the sidelines, while goalkeeper Jason Harvell was controversially sent off in the same encounter after throwing his gloves at striker Ryan Bath and will start a three-match ban on December 22.

Magpies: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Cole, Costello, Sainsbury, Blake, Hubbard, Gill, Kemble, Webb, Smith, Jeffes, Ackerman, Davidson, Roast.