NEW Hamworthy United boss Carl Poore is keen to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors – but only after succeeding at the County Ground.

The 33-year-old former Poole Town captain yesterday returned to the dugout nine months after leaving Verwood Town.

Poore, who cited time constraints as the reason behind his Potters departure, revealed a change in his personal circumstances had enabled him to relaunch his fledgling managerial career.

And with some of United’s former managers going on to bigger and better things, Poore reckons his new post is the perfect place for a fresh start.

Poore told the Daily Echo: “I had a couple of offers but once Steve (Harvey, chairman) targeted me, it was too good an opportunity to turn down.

“I know Steve well from his days at Poole and Hamworthy is a good club that has had some great managers over the years.

“The likes of Alex Pike, Phil Simkin and, more recently, Simon Browne have gone on to higher levels.

“As a manager, you always want to test yourself but I am keen to stay here for a while and make sure we take the club forward.

“The club is on the up and Steve is very committed. Things will take time but I want to improve on last season and to do that, the lads need to be fit, hungry and enjoying their football again.”

Poore hopes to take some new recruits along to a meeting with the club’s existing players at some point during the next week as he bids to freshen up a squad that lost eight of its final nine Wessex League matches last season.

“We will get together and see who wants to sign on,” he added. “I have a few players I want to bring in and things do need to change.

“Finishing in their worst position in the Wessex League is not good. They underperformed last season so we have to move things on without disheartening the good youngsters the club has.

“A few of the lads either were not performing or not good enough. We will have to address that but I will reserve judgement until I see for myself.

“Anyone who wants to stay from last season will not be turned away but I am aware that we may need a few experienced heads to come in to help them out.

“We have a bit of a budget but nothing that compares with the likes of Blackfield, Sholing, Moneyfields or Bemerton.

“Our job is to make sure we get the right calibre of player in to get Hamworthy back to where they were – the top 10 of the Wessex League.”

Poore admitted he remained confident that Paul Roast would be involved as and when his personal commitments allowed.

Harvey added: “The main thing for me was Carl’s strong link with Poole Town.

“Tom (Killick, Poole manager) endorses him and I have known him for a while. As soon as Paul Roast said he could not commit, Carl was the only choice for us.

“We didn’t advertise the post because we had a specific idea about what was required. He also has a point to prove having been out of the game for a little while.”