POOLE Town boss Tom Killick has warned an increased budget cannot be plucked from thin air and says a "big effort" is essential if the required spending power for National South is to be secured.

Killick is already planning for life in non-league's second tier and while the long-serving Tatnam manager has already revealed plans to keep the bulk of his squad together, he has also admitted there is a need to strengthen.

Dolphins face one of the biggest tests in club history when they begin the new campaign in a matter of months and with sizeable cashflow a useful tool, Killick is keen for local businesses to back his team and give them the best chance of being competitive.

He told the Daily Echo: "Financially, running the club has been very difficult for the directors in terms of sustaining things at the level we were at last year.

"Looking ahead, you can't just say, 'we've gone up a league so we have to spend more money' – the money has to come from somewhere and that's not easy.

"The directors can't magic money out of thin air and the trouble is that going up a league doesn't automatically significantly increase your revenue.

"If you are at the top of the league, I know that is an exception. We had more than 1,000 people against Dunstable and more than 500 against Bideford. But there is no guarantee what your crowds would be if you were half way up the league above.

"There is no guarantee they are going to be significantly more.

"There is going to have to be a big effort to get some support for the club and I do hope the local business community recognises we are at a level now where it's worth them getting involved.

"I hope that will happen and then it will enable us to carry on going."

The second team to be promoted from the Southern League Premier Division is yet to be determined but it will be either Hungerford Town or Leamington.

Both teams came through their respective play-off semi-finals on Wednesday and will lock horns at Bulpit Lane on Monday night.

Redditch United had taken a first-half lead against Leamington through Ashley Sammons but they were pegged back by a Courtney Baker-Richardson equaliser in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage-time.

After extra-time, which was goal-less, Leamington went on to win on penalties to secure their safe passage.

Quick-fire goals from Brett Donnelly and Robbie Burns gave Hitchin Town a 2-0 advantage at home to Hungerford.

But the Crusaders hit back as efforts from Scott Rees, James Clark and Stefan Brown – the latter six minutes from time – saw them through thanks to a 3-2 win.