ASSISTANT manager James Wood admitted Poole Town’s “only aim” was promotion after Dolphins had been installed as odds-on title favourites.

Bet Victor rate Poole at 1-2 to claim the silverware in Southern League Division One South & West this season.

Dolphins trail second favourites Hungerford by five points but have five matches in hand on the leaders.

Wood said the odds had not piled pressure on Poole’s players – because that was already there from the club’s own lofty expectations.

The former Poppies boss told the Daily Echo: “Everyone knows that our aim is to gain promotion this season.

“If anything, there is added pressure and expectancy on our own shoulders because that is what we want to do this season.

“Our main aim – and only aim – is to gain promotion. It is something the lads have to live with.

“I wouldn’t say the odds added any more pressure because that has always been there because of the expectation we put on the players.”

Dolphins will be aiming to bounce back from the 3-2 defeat against Yate on Saturday when they visit struggling Winchester City tonight (7.45pm).

Warren Byerley (ankle) and Carl Preston (unavailable) are both ruled out but Sam Clarke is expected to overcome a groin problem.

Poole have named striker Steve Brown and goalkeeper Tom Brown in their squad.

Dolphins: (from) Hutchings, Clarke, Baines, Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Howes, Burbidge, Devlin, Charles, Kelly, Brooks, Dibba, Richardson, S Brown, T Brown.