MANAGER Steve Cuss hopes lure of first-team action will help Wimborne Town win their tug of war with arch rivals Poole Town over youngster Zach Phelps.

The 19-year-old defender, who came through the ranks at Cuthbury and made four first-team appearances last season, has penned non-contract terms with the Magpies but turned out for the Dolphins against Verwood last week.

Poole boss Tom Killick is interested in adding the rookie to his under-21 setup but Cuss has moved to persuade Phelps to stay with a promise of senior action.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “You often find lads get game time at one or two different clubs in pre-season and I had no problem with it.

"Zach has been around first-team training with us for a while now and we think very highly of him here. He is one of a few players that has played regularly for the reserves, made the step up and will get an opportunity as and when we need him.

“The situation here is that we have 16, 17 and 18-year-olds playing in the first team. When you have 15 or 16 senior players, those younger players are next in line so lads that want to play Southern League football will get their opportunity here. The fact is they will be needed."

Teenage defenders Ryan Johnson and Callum O’Hare, returning winger Billy Elliott, reserve-team midfielder Liam Hall and Bournemouth Poppies youngster Sam Turner have been involved in Wimborne’s pre-season matches.

Cuss confirmed he was unlikely to draft in anyone outside his current crop of trialists, adding: “There are no incomings at the moment.

"We are always looking at players in pre-season and have one or two other lads training with us so we will see how things go.”