POOLE Town boss Tom Killick says he is desperate to keep non-league legend Taffy Richardson at Tatnam.

The veteran midfielder has hinted that he may be forced to leave Dolphins in a bid to find more regular first-team action next season.

Hartlepool-born Richardson, who turns 47 in December, has been a key figure in Poole’s rise through the non-league levels in recent years.

A firefighter by profession, Richardson has scored 52 goals in a Dolphins career which has seen him make more than 400 appearances for the club.

However, he saw his game-time restricted last term as Poole claimed a Southern Division One South & West and Dorset Senior Cup double.

But manager Killick insists his long-time friend and former team-mate still has plenty to offer the promoted Tatnam outfit in the Southern Premier.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “Taffy arrived at Poole at the same time as me and to say he has been integral to our success would be a massive understatement.

“I would say he has been the biggest factor, overall, in our success, when you look at the period of time he has been at the club. His contribution has probably outweighed everyone’s, including my own in a lot of ways.

“Taffy wants to play and, without doubt, he is still capable of playing. I would love him to stay with us but he has to make his own decision. I am desperate for him to stay because I think Poole would be a much poorer club without him.”

Meanwhile, Killick confirmed that he had retained the services of a number of his Tatnam squad, with goalkeeper Nick Hutchings, midfielder Steve Devlin and strikers Warren Byerley, Michael Charles and Dan Cann already tied to contracts.

Killick says he has agreed terms with Luke Burbidge, Sam Clarke and Will Spetch, with Carl Preston and Adam Kelly also close to re-signing.

The Dolphins boss is set to this week hold talks with Marvin Brooks and Michael Walker, who is believed to be a target for Dorset rivals Weymouth.