BOSS Tom Killick has vowed not to gamble with Poole Town’s future having missed out on hotshots Justin Bennett and Warren Bentley.

Killick revealed his frustration at landing neither of his top targets as he prepares Dolphins for their first campaign in the National South.

Bennett began his search for a new club before the end of last season on the back of Gosport’s financial troubles but this week confirmed he had signed for hometown club Salisbury.

The reformed Wiltshire giants will play two tiers below Poole but Killick confirmed his club “could not compete” with their financial clout.

Killick then turned his attention to prolific Winchester marksman Bentley, a long-term target for the Tatnam club, but missed out to league rivals Gosport.

Reflecting on the setbacks, Killick told the Daily Echo: “We have to be realistic. It is very easy to get carried away with the desperation to improve the squad and sign players you think are going to help you to progress.

“But we simply cannot put the club in a situation where it spends more money than it can afford. We have to accept there is a limit to what we offer in order to safeguard the welfare of the club.

“Inevitably, there are going to disappointments when it comes to recruitment. I am frustrated, and I am sure the supporters and players are, to see someone we had an interest in go to a club two divisions below us.

“At the same time, I think many people will remember examples of clubs going out of existence by overstretching themselves so when you miss out, you just have to move on.

“By his own admission, Justin probably only has a couple of years left playing at a reasonable level and he is certainly someone who is capable of playing and succeeding in the National South.

“It surprises me a little bit that he is prepared to play at that level, which is not a criticism.

“Salisbury is a big club playing below its natural level and they are able to offer packages that can entice players. That’s not a criticism either, they are just trying to push on.

“I was keen on Warren Bentley as well. Realistically, we could only have had one or the other but when I became aware of Justin’s intentions, I made a big effort to get Warren.

“Again, we could not compete financially with Gosport, an established National South club.

“Supporters may see those players go elsewhere and feel disheartened but the bottom line is they have to have a club to watch and understand the realities we are faced with.”

On his bid to bring in new faces, Killick continued: “I’d like to recruit. Ideally, I’d like to sign a wide player and another forward but you have to get people of the right calibre.

“I don’t want to sign people for the sake of it and if I start with what I had last season, we would just have to try to deal with it and look at the loan market.

“There is no point lowering your sights and signing people who are not at the level you’re after but there are still one or two other avenues to explore.

“On top of that, you always get some trialists and the higher you go, you hope to get a better quality come forward.

“The loan market also becomes a bit easier for us and clubs like Bournemouth might send us slightly older and more experienced players.

“They have always been very helpful and while we don’t want to flood the squad with loan players, it is a useful tool and our relationship with Bournemouth is one I am keen to encourage.”

Dolphins have agreed terms with Michael Walker, Jamie Whisken, Carl Pettefer, Jamie Gleeson, Luke Burbidge and Richard Gillespie ahead of the new campaign with negotiations “ongoing” with all bar three of last season’s squad.

Ex-Cherries striker Alan Connell has not been offered fresh terms, loan striker Tony Lee has returned to parent club Eastleigh and Jack Dickson will be playing in the United States.

“I am hopeful we can agree terms with three or four others over the next couple of days and then we’re optimistic a couple more will follow soon after,” added Killick.

“You can never be sure but I have had no suggestion from anyone that they want to leave the club.”

Meanwhile, the long-serving Poole manager was adamant he had not been disheartened by his double striker snub.

“It’s a fact of life in football,” he continued. “We have been at levels where we were at the top end of the financial scale and benefited from that when it came to recruitment.

“Now, we have probably reached the level where we’re at the bottom end but you cannot complain. We have done brilliantly to get to where we are and I am looking forward to the challenge of the National South.

“This is the most excited I have been about a new season for a long time and any issues in terms of money does not dent my enthusiasm or motivation.

“I’d much rather be here and perhaps struggle to compete with big clubs financially than still be the big hitters in the Wessex League. You have to appreciate that will be the case when you have progression.”