POOLE boss Tom Killick described as “slightly bizarre” Wimborne’s promotion to Southern League South – but was looking forward to locking horns with their arch rivals.

Following today’s release of the division’s fixture schedule, Dolphins and Magpies will first do battle in a Dorset derby at Cuthbury on bank holiday Monday, August 27.

The sides will then collide once again in the reverse fixture at Black Gold Stadium on Boxing Day.

Poole had been operating two steps higher than Wimborne before suffering relegation from National South last season.

Despite losing their Southern League West play-off final to Swindon Supermarine in May, Magpies had their promotion rubber-stamped earlier this month.

Shaw Lane’s withdrawal from the Northern League Premier Division meant a restructure of leagues around the country – giving the Cuthbury outfit the opportunity to join Dolphins at step three.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “Wimborne lost in their play-off final but any team in their position is going to grab with both hands the opportunity they have been given. It’s slightly bizarre but we would all take it.

“I think they would probably feel that, with the squad they assembled, they would have liked to have got promotion on merit.

“But they have managed to achieve it through other avenues – the result is the same.

“From our point of view we would much rather have Wimborne in the league. It’s another local game.

“They now seem to be in a much different place than they were a few years ago in terms of their resources and, as you would expect following on from that, they now have a very competitive squad.

“We are looking forward to locking horns with them because they are going to be competitive. When you look at their infrastructure compared to us, we are fighting on a very level playing field.

“We have to do everything we can to make them one of the clubs we can finish above.”

The last time the pair competed at the same league level was the 2012-13 Southern League Division One South & West campaign.

Killick guided Dolphins to the title with 98 points and 30 victories from 42 games. Wimborne were looking up at their neighbours from 12th spot.

Wimborne and Poole will also face off in pre-season for the Mark Frowde Trophy at the Specsavers County Ground on Wednesday (7.45pm).

Killick’s troops will play their first league fixture at home against Hartley Wintney on Saturday, August 11. At the same time, Magpies will be away at Farnborough.

Friendlies listed for Saturday include Hamworthy United hosting Weymouth at the Specsavers County Ground (3pm), Poppies welcoming Hashtag United to Victoria Park (3pm) and Bashley facing Holt United at Brockenhurst College (11am).

Spectators are urged to check fixtures and kick off times with the relevant clubs.