CHRIS Reeves remained in |defiant mood despite seeing Poole Town’s latest bid to end their 14-year Southern League exile fail.

Dolphins’ hopes of securing a ground share at Fawcett’s Field were last night expected to be vetoed at a New Milton Town Council meeting.

Poole, who are in pole position to retain the Wessex League championship which would give them a chance of promotion, would have to move away from their Tatnam base in order to meet the necessary ground grading requirements for step four football.

The home of New Milton Town emerged as a major contender to house the Dorset outfit, with both clubs keen for the move to go ahead.

But the council, which owns the venue, was last night set to ratify a decision of its amenities committee to dismiss the plan.

That leaves Dolphins facing a race to secure an alternative if they are to have any chance of moving back into the Southern League next season – for the first time since relegation ended their proud 39-year stint in 1996.

Despite the setback, which comes just over two months after plans for a dream new home at Branksome Rec were controversially rejected, vice-chairman Reeves told the Echo: “It’s an obvious thing to say, but two championships in successive years and two knockbacks for promotion, would be extremely disappointing.

“But on the other hand, bearing in mind where we came from and the days at Haskells Rec, if someone had said we were going to win two Wessex League titles and have the possibility of a move to a fantastic new facility – but will have to wait for Southern League football – it would have been like winning the lottery.

“The overwhelming majority of our supporters recognise that. It will take a lot more than having to wait for Southern League football for a year or two to affect the feelgood factor at Poole Town Football Club.”

Reeves, who would not comment on possible alternatives, added: “Even if we got a ground share, it would be a huge decision to take to go into the Southern League on the back of ground sharing – with increased overheads and reduced income.

“We would have to analyse it very carefully and consult with our supporters on what would be in the best interests of the club.”

When asked to explain the council’s decision to decline the Fawcett’s Field ground share, town clerk Graham Flexman said: “It’s up to the town councillors as a whole. I expect the decision of the committee to be ratified tonight (last night).

“We can just about cope with three uses a week.

“We provide amenities and sports facilities for the local population, not for a football club based 15 miles away, but we wish them luck elsewhere.”

The decision came as a big disappointment for Wessex League strugglers New Milton Town, whose secretary Richie Phippard added: “Not only would it have done Poole a favour and helped them, it would have helped us because it would have brought in extra revenue, which as with most non-league clubs, is needed.

“It has shot us both down.”

• Dolphins host Laverstock and Ford at Tatnam in the league tonight (7.45pm).

Poole Town: (from) Jones, Whitley, Poore, Lloyd, Walker, Gill, Richardson, Hubbard, Sturgess, Preston, Smith, Cook, Brown, Dovell, Gates, Dibba, Skelton, Ackerman.