PROUD manager Tom Killick believes Poole Town’s title triumph is a richly deserved reward for everybody associated with the club – both on and off the pitch.

Killick gave his verdict on Dolphins’ Southern League Division One South & West championship success after they had tonight claimed the crown without kicking a ball.

Swindon Supermarine’s 3-0 defeat at Shortwood United means that runaway leaders Poole cannot be caught as they top the table on 90 points.

Dominant Poole fended off the challenge of rivals Supermarine and Hungerford Town with five games to spare after losing just three times in 37 Southern League matches.

As well as taking the silverware, Poole’s relentless march to the summit secured the one automatic promotion place into the Premier Division.

Deflecting praise for the achievement, Killick told the Daily Echo: “A lot of managers at this level have to deal with stuff that I don’t have to deal with.

“There is so much work done by so many people behind the scenes that my life is made easy and the players are treated very well.

“There is so much hard work that goes on and that is what makes the club what it is and they deserve to be rewarded for this promotion. As much as the players deserve it, the club as a whole deserves it.”

Killick added: “I am so proud of the players and I feel that their mentality has been exceptional.

“They dealt with the heartbreak of the play-off final defeat last season and turned that disappointment into a steely determination to make sure that it didn’t happen again and that we didn’t miss out this time round.

“The difference between ordinary teams and successful teams is consistency. The mental make-up of the team gives you consistency and I think that is what has been so impressive about our group of players.

“When we haven’t played well, it has been the classic situation of managing to get positive results.

“I am a big believer that the mental make-up is as important as ability. Ability-wise, there is not necessarily a significant difference between us and some of the other teams. But the mental strength that we have has set us apart. I feel privileged to manage this group of players.”

Champions Poole Clevedon Town tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Dolphins: (from) Hutchings, Clarke, Spetch, Emmerson, Walker, Brooks, Burbidge, Byerley, Devlin, Cane, Charles, Preston, Cann, Kelly, Richardson, T Brown.