MARVIN Brooks likened his Poole Town comeback to an emotional reunion with an old flame.

The Dolphins star made the decision to return to boss Tom Killick’s squad in October following a controversial summer move to Southern League West Salisbury.

But now he is settled back at the place he calls “home”, the forward insisted he appreciated life at the Black Gold Stadium even more.

He told the Daily Echo: “I am really pleased to be back and I now know it was definitely the right decision to come back and the wrong decision to leave.

“You can compare it to leaving your girlfriend and hitting the singles scene.

“Then you realise that she is the best you are going to get, you were fortunate and the grass wasn’t greener on the other side.”

He added: “Coming home was so easy.

“You get to a point in your career and realise you have done so much for a club that all you care about is their wellbeing and status.

“I had to leave to really appreciate what this club was. It is limited in terms of facilities but the core of the group is still there and the people who run the club are second to none.

“The first couple of games when I came back, I was a completely different player. I was doing things I felt I wasn’t capable of doing when I went to Salisbury.”

Brooks netted his first two goals back in a Poole shirt during the 10-2 win over Hamworthy United in a Dorset Senior Cup clash last month.

However, his return was dented by a straight red card issued in the 1-0 loss to high-flying Dartford, for which he is now serving a three-game ban.

The dismissal left the Dolphins ace frustrated and he admitted he was sorry for kicking out at an opposition player.

“It’s weird because it was the second time I had been sent off this season. I had it once for Salisbury,” he added.

“That time I was accused of a stamp and was completely innocent.

“This time, I walked straight out from the changing room and was pretty cut up about it.

“The lad tangled with me and grabbed me. He left something on me and I stupidly reacted.

“I can only be held accountable for my own actions and I was beyond gutted when I realised what I had done.

“I find it so out of my character and that is why I went into the changing room and apologised to everyone.

“There was no excuse for it. If it was one of the other players, I would be the first one to have a go at them and say it is not acceptable.”

Brooks was forced to miss Poole’s first home win of the campaign in National South when they beat Weston-super-Mare 3-1 last time out.

Dolphins’ next league encounter is at Bognor Regis Town on Saturday.