POOLE Town striker Warren Byerley dropped his broadest hint yet that he could be set to stay at Tatnam.

Byerley, 27, signed non-contract terms with Dorchester in November before immediately joining the Dolphins on dual registration to get match practice following an ill-fated spell with Kettering Town.

The frontman, who has bagged eight goals in nine games for Tom Killick’s promotion chasers, is free to decide whether to stay put or fight for a starting place in the Conference South and admits that Tatnam is starting to feel like home.

Byerley told the Daily Echo: “I spoke to Phil (Simkin, Dorchester manager) over the weekend and I need to speak with Tom Killick this week. Phil wants me to go back but I am going to leave things as they are over the next couple of weeks.

“I can’t say for sure what I will do yet because it would be disrespectful to other people involved, but I think the main thing in football is to be happy and I am very happy at Poole.

“You should always have a good think before moving if you are happy somewhere. I’ve already had a couple of clubs this season and it is nice to feel settled.”

The former Weymouth marksman accepted a full-time contract with Kettering in the summer, leaving his job as a self-employed builder and plasterer, although financial woes quickly saw the tide turn at Nene Park.

Having now returned to his day job, Byerley insisted he was glad to have taken the chance: “Kettering was the first time I had been a full-time professional. That is why I went for it but I should have sussed it out before I went.

“You’ve got to dip your toe in to realise it stinks sometimes but there are no regrets. It is just one of those things that happens. It was quickly back to normality.”

Byerley’s comments will be welcome news for Dolphins fans who witnessed a rare home defeat against Yate Town on Saturday.

The in-form visitors secured a 3-2 victory to become the first team to win in the league at Tatnam since March as the unmarked Matt Groves lit up a dull second half, looping a header into the top far corner two minutes into added time to win it for the Bristolians.

Tom Seery’s close-range header handed Yate the lead but a Byerley-inspired Poole seized the initiative with two goals in three minutes before a cushioned volley from Mitchell Page levelled things. Goals from Luke Burbidge and Byerley had given Poole the lead.

Things got worse for the Dolphins as Sam Clarke was withdrawn with a groin strain before Byerley (ankle) and Carl Preston (knee) departed through injury at half-time.

An X-ray confirmed no serious damage to Byerley’s ankle although the striker will miss tomorrow’s trip to Winchester City.

Dolphins: Hutchings, Clarke (Baines, 39), Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Howes, Burbidge, Devlin, Byerley (Charles, h-t), Preston (Kelly, h-t), Brooks. Unused sub: Dibba.