POOLE Town boss Tom Killick insisted Lewis Lindsay could still have a career in the professional ranks and said the defender’s recent milestone had been an immense source of personal pride.

Former Corfe Hills School pupil Lindsay, who joined Dolphins following his release by Cherries three and a half years ago, made his 100th appearance for the National South club in the 2-2 draw with Havant & Waterlooville last Saturday.

And Killick said the 23-year-old’s landmark achievement had shown his spell at the Black Gold Stadium had proved a success from all sides.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Gloucester City (3pm), Killick told the Daily Echo: “Lewis has been with us for a while now and I’ve watched him mature as a person and a player.

“The only thing which has held him back from playing at an even better level is injuries. If Lewis can stay fit, he can have a really good football career, whether that’s in non-league or the professional ranks.

“It does make me very happy and proud when any player plays a decent amount of games for the club because I just feel it must be working well for both parties. Lewis must be happy and we’re happy with Lewis.

“There are an awful lot of players in our team who have played a lot of games – players like Steve Devlin, Jamie Whisken, Carl Pettefer, Luke Roberts, Nick Hutchings and Michael Walker.

“I feel the longer players are with a club, the more connection there is between a club and a player and the players themselves.

“It’s a big part of what I believe in. Once you have got good players, you want to try to keep them together.

“I know that is stating the obvious but in terms of building a spirit and a connection between the players and the club, I feel it is something which can’t be underestimated.

“One of the reasons that doesn’t happen more often is because managers are not in jobs long enough.

“If I got the sack tomorrow, there would probably be three or four players going and three or four coming in pretty quickly. That’s almost how it works when managers change.

“I just feel that’s a bit sad because I think it’s much better for football clubs to have stability, not just in terms of the manager but in terms of the players as well.

“You look at Bournemouth. Eddie Howe has been allowed to develop that club and he has got a core of players who have been with him a long time.

“It counts for an awful lot but if managers aren’t going to be given time in these jobs, you aren’t going to get a close-knit, stable group of players.”

Poole are currently hovering just above the National South relegation places, one spot behind 17th-place Gloucester.

The Tigers were beaten 1-0 by Welling in their most recent league outing.