MANAGER Tom Killick hopes to bolster Poole Town's diminished attack with a swoop for Wessex League hotshot Warren Bentley after confirming the departure of striker Michael Charles.

The Dolphins' search for frontrunners became more fervent this week when out-of-contract Charles decided to switch to a club closer to his Camberley home, with Ryman League Premier Division club Met Police understood to be his likely destination.

Charles follows Dorchester-bound Dan Cann through the Tatnam exit, while injury-plagued poacher Richard Gillespie will be working abroad until November.

Killick revealed that talks over former Cherries youngster Jordan Chiedozie's future were ongoing and that out-of-favour Warren Byerley would return to the club for pre-season in an attempt to prove his fitness.

But with Alresford Town's 39-goal hitman Bentley free to move, Poole's boss wants to seal the deal before the closed-season rush for signatures gathers pace.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “We are reasonably strong in most areas but we definitely need to recruit strikers, particularly on the back of Michael Charles leaving. We anticipated that the continued travelling would be a problem for him but it was a real loss nonetheless.

"It is important we do not panic about bringing in replacements and we are looking at several options but if we can sort out a deal for Warren (Bentley) then he will be a welcome addition.”

Meanwhile, Killick has managed to address another area for concern with right-back Sam Clarke agreeing a one-year deal for the forthcoming campaign.

The tenacious defender, whose campaign curtailed by work commitments in January last season, has committed to contract terms along with defensive linchpin Jamie Whisken and midfielders Steve Devlin and Carl Pettefer.

“Sam is a proper old-fashioned defender who first and foremost concentrates on his duties at the back,” said Killick. “There are no frills with him.

“All of his attributes are very good, he is whole-hearted, committed and very strong physically. His ability to spot danger and snuff it out can only make us more solid.

“His departure last season coincided with our dip in form and there is no doubt his loss destabilised us a bit. He is a very dependable character and it will be great to have him around again both on and off the pitch.”