Richardson: Dolphins could need helping hand with promotion (From Bournemouth Echo)

Richardson: Dolphins could need helping hand with promotion

7:00am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

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TAFFY Richardson believes it is only a matter of time before rejuvenated Poole Town reclaim the Southern League status they relinquished 14 years ago.

But the tough-tackling midfielder admits the Tatnam outfit could do with a helping hand from a Good Samaritan if they are to go back up.

Richardson’s Wessex Premier title-chasers visit Blackfield & Langley tonight (7.45pm) aware that Dolphins vice-chairman Chris Reeves has just ruled out the possibility of a ground share next season.

That has left Poole facing a race against time to improve their Tatnam facilities to meet strict FA ground-grading criteria for Southern League clubs by the March 31 deadline.

It’s a situation that doesn’t look good for ambitious Poole.

However, Richardson said: “Liam Green (Wimborne captain) said in yesterday’s Echo there are a lot of players at Cuthbury who can play at a higher level and I know that is the case with our players as well.

“People like Micky Hubbard, Carl Preston and Stuart Brown could all do a job higher up.

“They are all ambitious and you couldn’t wish for a better club than Poole Town to take them higher.

“This club will eventually go up, but someone could have to give us a helping hand.

“Chris and the management committee can’t do any more than they are.

“They just need a break and as players we appreciate what the club does for us.

“Chris is a great believer, as I am, and so are the rest of the players.

“If it is possible for Tatnam to be upgraded to meet Southern League criteria, Chris and the management committee will do it.

“Anything they need to do, they will do it.”

Asked if the unsavoury prospect of not gaining promotion this season would make Poole’s players more determined to clinch a second consecutive championship success, Richardson said: “I don’t think it matters.

“After all, no-one has ever promised a player they will play higher up with Poole.

“We will just try our best to win the league because everyone here wants to play with Poole at a higher level.

“There is not one bit of criticism from the players about our current situation. We are just a club that is united in going up.”

Poole are likely to be unchanged for their trip to Blackfield, who beat them 2-1 at Tatnam in October.

Richardson said: “We lost 1-0 at Brading and put that right on Saturday, winning 2-0 at home.

“Hopefully we can do the same against Blackfield and we’ll only be two points behind Wimborne.”

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