POOLE Town boss Tom Killick welcomed the addition of new signing Jake Smeeton and believes the versatile defender “ticks all the boxes”.

Smeeton, who spent a loan spell with Poole in 2011, ended a nine-and-a-half year stay at Dorchester when he agreed terms on a contract until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old captained the Magpies and was given a guard of honour by his team-mates following his final game for the club against Weymouth on Boxing Day.

Smeeton, who played at step two of the non-league pyramid with Dorchester, left the Avenue Stadium as part of the club’s recent budget cuts.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “Jake is someone I know well and he ticks all the boxes. He has played National South level and is experienced.

“He also has the mentality that I am really keen on. He is very determined and has a real will to win about him so I think he will be a good signing for us.

“We have been scrabbling around at left-back and have been playing right footed people there.

“Jake is left footed and that is his favoured position so he will be a good addition, that’s for sure.”

Dorchester’s financial predicament also saw manager Mark Jermyn and assistant Nick Crittenden sever ties with the club.

Killick, who played for the Magpies, said: “They are a club I have affection for and are having a difficult time at the moment.

“It is not nice to see and you can only hope better things are around the corner for them.

“But I have to do what is best for Poole Town and I had the opportunity to sign Jake so it was something I had to do.”

Smeeton, who made more than 300 appearances for Dorchester, is expected to be named in the Poole squad for today’s visit of Gosport Borough to Tatnam (3pm).

He said: “Dorchester has been a big part of my career and will always remain close to my heart.

“There has been some financial difficulty and I’d like to hope that my departure as well as Jem and Critts will allow the rest of the lads to stay together for the rest of the season.”

Goals from Steve Devlin and Richard Gillespie earned Poole a 2-0 win over Gosport at Privett Park on Boxing Day, leaving them seventh and just a point outside the play-off places.

Killick added: “You don’t want to get lured into the trap of thinking the hardest fixture was playing them away, we won and therefore we can afford to take them lightly just because we are at home.

“We have to approach it in the same manner as we did the away game and put everything into it.

“If you look at the table, if we were to win, we would be back in touch with the play-off positions which is where we want to be.

“We had a little gap to bridge after the indifferent run but, having won on Boxing Day, if we could win again, the table would look a lot more positive for us.”