PRIORY boss Graham Kemp has issued a warning to managers plotting to thwart Cherries new boy Harry Cornick: Your tactics won’t bother him.

Christchurch prospect Cornick hit the headlines this week when he signed an 18-month contract with Cherries after a successful trial at Dean Court.

While he completes his A-levels at Poole Grammar School, the winger will finish the season at Hurn Bridge before permanently joining Eddie Howe’s side.

Kemp fully expects Christchurch’s Premier Division rivals to continue making special plans to nullify the threat posed by the 17-year-old talent.

But he insists defences should be wary of an improvement in Cornick’s performances as he relaxes after finally penning a professional deal.

Asked if opponents would devise tactics specifically for Cornick, Kemp told the Daily Echo: “That has already been the case. Everyone knows him.

“They will make special plans for him but he is a young lad and doesn’t care about that sort of thing. We are expecting a little upturn now that his future has been sorted out.

“He had a time when every man and his dog were interested but we have noticed in the past couple of weeks that he has been a lot more relaxed and back to his old self.

“I think it will help him that the deal has been done and he can concentrate on playing football. He is at the age when that is what he loves to do.”

Third-placed Priory face a clash with struggling New Milton Town at Fawcett’s Field tomorrow (3pm).

Linnets’ football secretary Richie Phippard, a Wessex League stalwart, believes Cornick can become Cherries’ latest graduate from non-league.

Phippard said: “I think he, potentially, looks like he has got what it takes. Fair play to the lad.”

Linnets: (from) Hookway, Blackburn, Pidgley, Barge, Morris, Fox, Egerton, Booker, Donaldson, Proctor, De’ath, Cox, Roberts, Head, Curtis, Ramos, Whitcher.

Priory: (from) Collins, Thompson, Magookin, Crutchley, Lloyd, Burden, Puckett, Smith, Yelland, Osborne, Cook, Griffin, Cornick, Dand, Legg, Frampton.

  • Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Bournemouth Poppies visit Hayling United with Luke Ayrton, Sam Lockyer, Aaron Corby and Lewis Burgis all returning to Ken Vaughan’s squad. Verwood Town travel to Horndean and Hamworthy United make the trip to basement outfit Lymington Town.

Poppies: (from) Jones, Lepage, Jackson, Watt, Batchelor, Hales, Lammali, Ward, Warren, Joyce, Phillips, Saadi, Molyneaux, Martin, Ayrton, Lockyer, Corby, Burgis, Vaughan.

Potters: (from) Lynch, Evans, Kelly, M Smith, O’Connell, Saxby, Dyer, Goodall, Webb, Satterley, Gajic, J Smith, Murray, Gilham, Kimber, Jones.

Hammers: (from) Knights, Murray, Staines, Horlock, Ayling, Sturgess, Carlile, Penny, Lanahan, Bradley, Shovelton, Pekun, Hester, Wyatt.