MANAGER Carl Poore has never been happier with the lack of mobile phone signal at home as he braces himself to battle for Verwood Town’s top assets.

The former Poole Town favourite entered the Potterne Park dugout in April following the resignation of the club’s most successful boss Adie Arnold.

Poore’s predecessor has since taken charge of Wessex League rivals Christchurch with speculation rife that a host of Potters players will join their former leader at Priory.

And with Verwood’s new man at the helm braced for overtures, he admits any silence will be golden this summer.

“That is one bonus of living in Cranborne, you can never pick up a signal!” joked Poore. “I do have a feeling that a couple might leave but it’s inevitable in pre-season, I think that happens everywhere.

“We need to make a few changes from last season and there will be some who go off and find other clubs. Whether that will be Christchurch remains to be seen but I imagine a couple will go there.”

However, Poore remains hopeful of preventing a mass exodus with last season’s top scorer Jack Lovell – a target for Hamworthy United and Christchurch – initially declaring his intent to stay put.

“All of the players, including Jack, gave me their word that they would be back for pre-season. I can only go on that but I am also aware that it doesn’t necessarily mean a lot in football.

“I have been in touch with a number of players and the majority should give it a go. I’m expecting quite a few from the Dorset Premier League and the Bournemouth leagues to take up the challenge as well as some experienced Wessex League players.

“We’re looking to find the right balance because Verwood is a very young team at the moment and we need to level that out.”

One player Poore expects to lose, however, is midfielder Nathan Saxby, whose father Danny is Arnold’s right-hand man at Christchurch. Verwood begin pre-season training on July 1.