TOM Killick hailed the "magnificent gesture" of former Poole Town striker Charlie Austin in aiding the club's fight against demotion and admitted: "We'd still be in the Wessex League if it weren't for him."

Dolphins, who are on the cusp of the National South play-offs, must find £70,000 by the end of March if they are avoid being forced out of the league they won promotion to last term.

The reigning Southern League champions were given the green light to stage step two football at Tatnam on the proviso the venue met certain ground-grading criteria by March 31.

Southampton frontman Austin offered to help by giving his old club use of his box at St Mary's Stadium for Saints' game against Arsenal next month, which Poole could use to entertain potential investors.

Reflecting on Austin's generosity, Killick told the Daily Echo: "Charlie rang me straight away when the story surfaced and wanted to help.

"People have ridiculously suggested he should personally put money in despite the money he generated for the club in terms of his sale and subsequent move.

"We'd still be in the Wessex League if it weren't for him, so what he's done with the use of the box is a magnificent gesture and we're hoping it can assist in raising a significant sum. That's typical Charlie. He's always done the right thing by the club."

Meanwhile, Killick insists the motivation of his players will remain undimmed in the wake of the threat of demotion.

He said: "I don't think the players will require any extra motivation when it comes to the games because they are very competitive and have a great will to win and a hatred of losing.

"Whatever is going on in the background, that's not going to change. It's evident in every scenario they find themselves in, from training to any type of match, they have a real will to win and I don't expect that to change.

"Away from that, they will inevitably be very worried about the club's predicament so I don't expect it to affect performances but I expect it to be a big worry to the players."

Poole sit sixth in the standings and in order to be eligible for promotion to the National League – including to compete in the play-offs this season – the club would be required to carry out additional work on their seating by the end of March.

Killick added: "We felt after losing in the FA Trophy that we had to concentrate all our energy into getting in the play-off positions.

"That's going to be a really tough task as we have some really difficult games to come. I am still really motivated to achieve it because we set our target and we are not going to change it."

Killick, who is eyeing a loan signing, will be without the suspended Lewis Tallack at Margate tomorrow. Lewis Lindsay and Richard Gillespie are out and Shaun Cooper is unlikely to feature.