POOLE Town have been dealt a huge blow after Southern South & West team Salisbury FC announced the signing of Marvin Brooks.

Dolphins are yet to confirm the departure of the versatile 27-year-old but Brooks is expected to be unveiled as a Salisbury player inside the next 24 hours.

Brooks flourished when pushed forward into a striking role during the second half of last season.

In February he became the first Poole player in six years to hit the net in five successive matches and finished the campaign with 13 goals from 31 appearances.

His 17 strikes made him Dolphins' top scorer when Tom Killick's team won the Southern Premier title in 2015-16.

Salisbury boss Steve Claridge was understandably jubilant, then, to have apparently persuaded Brooks to end his six-year Tatnam stay.

"I've watched him, (Salisbury player) Callum Hart has watched him, and we both agree that he is quality, different class," said Claridge.

"He's a natural attacker in my view, he's 6ft tall, quick, strong and good in the air. I think he'll be a big player for us."

In better news for manager Killick, talismanic midfielder Carl Pettefer has joined skipper Jamie Whisken in committing to the Black Gold Stadium for the 2017-18 campaign.

Former Southend, Oxford and Cherries player Pettefer joined Poole from AFC Totton in 2013 and was player of the year during the Southern Premier title-winning season.

The 36-year-old's formidable engine-room partnership with Steve Devlin was a key factor in Killick's side finishing fifth during their maiden National South campaign.