POOLE Town manager Tom Killick says he has “no axe to grind” over Wimborne’s decision not to ground share with his club.

Killick believes the Cuthbury-based outfit, which secured promotion to the Southern League at the end of last season, is not trying to hold back Dolphins’ progress.

He just feels Magpies bosses are doing what is best for the future of their own club and what Poole would do if the roles were reversed.

The reigning Wessex League champions are desperate to return to the Southern League after a gap of 15 years.

So they approached arch-rivals Wimborne with a ground share proposal in a bid to use Cuthbury to boost their hopes of finally going up.

Poole’s current Tatnam ground is not up to Southern League standard, but they have submitted a planning application to build a new stadium at Canford Magna.

Wimborne chief Ken Stewart explained they turned down Poole’s offer because Magpies are running reserve and under-18 teams next season, so will be hosting more than 65 matches at Cuthbury.

Killick, whose side are three points off the top of the Wessex Premier Division with four games in hand, said: “We’re disappointed because it temporarily frustrates what we’re trying to do.

“But I personally think, and I know I speak for the rest of the club, that it’s completely Wimborne’s prerogative to make decisions that are in the best interests of their club.

“They are making a decision that’s best for them. We wouldn’t dream of trying to raise any issues with it.

“It’s entirely their prerogative although I’m disappointed it’s an avenue we can no longer pursue.

“There is no criticism of Wimborne. They have a club to run and they can’t do any favours to suit us.

“If the roles were reversed and it suited us to have Wimborne ground share with us we’d allow it, but if it didn’t, we wouldn’t.

“I’m sure that’s how Wimborne look at it.”

Killick, Magpies’ two-goal hero in the 1992 FA Vase final triumph, added: “I know there’s a big rivalry between the club’s fans, but at boardroom, manager and player level it’s good.

“I don’t think Wimborne have done it just to frustrate us. They’ve done it for the reasons they’ve stated and we just have to take it on the chin.

“I would have liked it to have come off because personally I like going to Cuthbury and it would have been nice to play there.

“But I completely respect the decision they have made and have no axe to grind over it.”