POOLE Town defender Neil Martin is understood to be the subject of a transfer tussle between fierce Dorset rivals Dorchester and Weymouth.

The Dolphins left-back could leave Tatnam having lost his starting place in recent weeks with the imminent return of long-term injury victim Will Spetch set to further increase competition for places.

Martin, who switched to Poole from Dorchester in November 2013, is thought to be wanted by new Magpies manager and former team-mate Mark Jermyn with Dolphins’ title rivals Weymouth ready to hijack the move with a last-ditch swoop for the contracted player.

Boss Tom Killick, who has fielded ex-Cherries youngster Lewis Lindsay at left-back in recent weeks, did not want to speculate on where Martin's future lay but confirmed that a move could be in the offing.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “I rate Neil very highly but these issues inevitably crop up from time to time.

"Players become frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities and you have to deal with them as they arise.

"I would be very happy if Neil were to stay with us but respect his desire to play regularly. We will have to see what happens over the coming days." 

Martin played 90 minutes in what could be his last hurrah for the Dolphins as Poole overcame Truro City 2-0 in last night’s Red Insure (Southern League) Cup quarter-final.

Steve Devlin struck a first-half double as the much-changed hosts comfortably joined North Leigh, Egham Town and Premier Division rivals Corby Town in the last four.

Killick said: “We fielded seven youngsters which was an awful lot considering Truro had only shuffled their first-team squad. They had far more experience than we did but our lads gave them the run around.

“There were some really outstanding performances. Harry Helyar and Jack Dickson seamlessly slotted into the back four and played particularly well.”

Meanwhile, Spetch pulled on a Poole jersey for the first time since November and emerged unscathed from his second-half cameo.

“Will is not quite ready to play week in week out, maybe it will take another week or two but he is very close now,” added Killick.

“He had a scan on Monday and the feedback was very positive. Before that we had been concerned but his rehabilitation is heading in the right direction. 

“Now we have to try and get him as much game time as possible with us to get him up to full speed because he will be an important player during the run in.”