MIDFIELDER Marvin Brooks insists he will return to Poole Town if his quest for full-time football proves unsuccessful.

The out-of-contract 24-year-old is trialling with full-time Conference South club Sutton United and played the second 45 minutes of their 5-1 pre-season victory at Winchester City on Saturday.

An ex-serviceman with the Royal Navy, Brooks emerged from local football and quickly stepped up from the reserves to establish himself as a key component in Dolphins’ successful side.

On the back of his part in Poole’s Southern South & West title triumph 12 months ago, Weymouth tried to lure away the personal trainer but he signed a one-year deal at Tatnam and weighed in with nine goals in 46 appearances.

And despite being a free agent again this summer, bullish Brooks vowed to only move on if a suitable professional deal came his way and lauded Dolphins as the county’s “best-run” club.

He told the Daily Echo: “I felt it was important to give it a try. Playing full-time is the pinnacle of the game but it might not be so feasible for me because I don’t want to give up my personal training.

“We will see how it goes. I want to train (with Sutton) for a couple of weeks and give it a proper crack because it’s a great opportunity and whatever happens it won’t do me any harm in terms of fitness.

“But I’m finding already that it is pulling me back and forth. I’m working while the other lads are off because I’m five months into my job and can’t neglect my client base. I want to get the best of both worlds but I need to see what is right for me.

“I have spoken to Tom (Killick, Poole manager) and given him my word that if I don’t sign for Sutton then I will stay with him. I think I owe him that much after all he has done for me.

“Taffy (Richardson) staying on as coach made that decision even easier. He is so important and if Poole are going to do anything this season, his presence in the changing room will make all the difference.

“I think last year made me realise that Poole are the best-run club locally, so I have no reason to move somewhere else. They are the quickest growing club in Dorset in my opinion and I think they will go full-time eventually.

“That might come a little bit late for me but I would love to help them progress and would not be interested in any other part-time club, even if they offered better terms.”

  • Poole will recognise the service of club legend and first-team coach Taffy Richardson with a testimonial against Cherries on Monday, July 14 (7.45pm).

The 47-year-old midfielder, who made more than 1,000 senior appearances in non-league football, retired from playing last month.