EX-Wimborne manager Alex Pike has poured scorn on his former club after wading in to their ongoing war of words with arch Dorset rivals Poole.

Pike, who had two successful spells at Cuthbury, believes the Magpies have a “chip on their shoulder” because they are “living in the shadow” of the Dolphins.

And he also said Wimborne were “not good enough” to challenge Poole.

Pike’s typically-outspoken comments come as Poole and Wimborne tonight renew hostilities in the final of the Dorset Senior Cup at the County Ground in Hamworthy.

A two-time winning manager of the county cup with Wimborne, Pike also believes Poole’s team selection will determine the destiny of the trophy (7.45pm kick-off).

Pike, now managing Gosport Borough, plotted Poole’s downfall in a dramatic Southern League Division One South & West play-off final at Tatnam last season.

He told the Daily Echo: “I always knew we were punching above our weight when we beat Poole. They deserved to win but football has a nasty way of biting you on the backside.

"You have to admire the way they have recovered and I think they are a stronger outfit for it. They have proved they are by far the best team in the division.

“You hear all these stories about clubs having money problems but you never get that with Poole. It is a well-run club with a fantastic supporter base.

"A lot of people at Wimborne will hate me for saying it but I have been very disappointed with them, especially this season.

“I have heard the rhetoric about them having their best points total but they are still mid-table. I would have expected them to have been challenging with the Pooles this season but, quite frankly, they are not good enough.

"There is no doubt Wimborne are living in Poole’s shadow and, because of it, they have got a chip on their shoulder. There are a lot of clubs in the local area who like to have a dig at Poole simply because they are successful.”

Wimborne, promoted to the Southern League in 2010 after finishing as runners-up in the Wessex League, were followed 12 months later by Poole following their third successive Wessex League title.

Pike added: “I have got some very good friends at Wimborne but they would have to admit they are behind Poole.

"You don’t need to be a fantastic pundit to look at the two camps and realise Poole are miles ahead, not just of Wimborne, but of everybody in the division.”

Previewing the final, the first between the two clubs, Pike said: “If both managers put out their first teams, there is only going to be one winner and that will be Poole. It all depends how they treat it.

"If I were in Steve Cuss’s position, I would be going out to win it because it is the only chance they have got to win any silverware this season. If I were in Tom Killick’s position, I would want to concentrate on winning the league. It all depends on how Tom and his club view it.”

PREVIOUS FINALS

1981 Bridport 2-1 Wimborne

1982 St Pauls (Jersey) 1-0 Wimborne

1983 Trinidad Bluebird 2-0 St Pauls (Jersey)

1984 Sherborne 1-0 Bridport

1985 Weymouth 4-2 Portland

1986 Weymouth 8-0 Wimborne

1987 Weymouth 5-3 Swanage

1988 Bridport 3-1 Poole

1989 Poole 3-1 Dorchester

1990 Swanage 1-0 Weymouth

1991 Weymouth 5-2 Swanage

1992 Wimborne 1-0 Bridport

1993 Weymouth 4-0 Poole

1994 Dorchester 1-0 Poole

1995 Hamworthy Engineering 4-1 Poole

1996 Dorchester 3-1 St Pauls (Jersey)

1997 Wimborne 2-0 Wareham Rangers

1998 Poole 2-1 Hamworthy United

1999 Weymouth 4-1 Wimborne

2000 Weymouth 2-1 Wimborne

2001 Dorchester 2-1 Weymouth

2002 Weymouth beat Dorchester on pens

2003 Dorchester 2-0 Weymouth

2004 Sherborne 3-2 Poole

2005 Bridport 1-0 Hamworthy United

2006 Hamworthy United 2-1 Poole

2007 Dorchester 2-1 Sherborne

2008 Sherborne 2-1 Portland

2009 Poole 2-0 Dorchester

2010 Gillingham 2-1 Wimborne

2011 Dorchester 6-2 Weymouth

2012 Dorchester 2-0 Wimborne