MANAGER Ken Vaughan has vowed to fight on and bring back the good times at Bournemouth Poppies – but admits the club needs a helping hand.

The Victoria Park outfit's 13 fit and available troops went down 3-0 at backmarkers Totton & Eling last night with veteran ex-Saints striker Jo Tessem notching a first-half hat-trick.

Poppies are unlikely to get dragged into a relegation scrap but with 110 Sydenhams Wessex League goals conceded so far this season and some 59 players used, it is a far cry from the club's FA Vase exploits of three years ago.

But the 65-year-old boss, who is in his seventh full season in charge, insists he will stay put while the club searches for much-needed finance.

Vaughan told the Daily Echo: "The situation is simple and Bob (Corbin, chairman) sympathises with what we are going through – we just don't have the money.

"All of the bottom four or five are in the same position and it will be battle every season without funds. The main thing is we stay in the Wessex (Premier) and keep it ticking over until things change.

"The club is a part of me now and I don't want to give up. You have good and bad times in football but hopefully we can inject some enthusiasm and finance and get it running properly with a side that has proven Wessex League players instead of cobbling together a side every week.

"Don't get me wrong, these boys are worth their weight in gold but we are throwing in half a dozen inexperienced lads every week in a strong, physical and fast league.

"Without the finance, we end up being a feeder team because other clubs come in and just pick off the two or three best players before they even get started. It's frustrating.

"I'd like to build it back up but we need backing and sponsors."

On the match, Vaughan added: "It was done and dusted after the first two minutes. We got a good response after half-time but we could have been out there for two weeks and not scored."

Poppies: Vaughan, Akinsuyi, Nhemechena, Molyneaux, Ami, Doe, Snadden (Rhodes, 84), Evans, Pekun, Watt (Bassiriki, 51), Leonard.