PORTSMOUTH boss Guy Whittingham last night confirmed he was tracking the progress of Poole Town hot prospect Will Spetch.

The 22-year-old defender’s fine form during Dolphins’ return to the Southern League Premier Division has seen him linked to Pompey, League Two rivals Exeter City and Conference club Forest Green Rovers.

And while it is understood the in-demand centre-half could be offered a trial with Exeter, Whittingham said Spetch had been endorsed by one of his club’s scouts on first viewing.

Whittingham told the Portsmouth News: “One of my former players told me about him. We have watched him (Spetch) but I haven’t watched him yet myself. I’ve heard decent things from people who have told me about him.

“You can never tell from one game – you’ve got to watch him two or three times, especially if you might be taking someone out of non-league.”

Poole could command a fee for Spetch, who is under contract at Tatnam, but Whittingham remains hopeful Pompey’s precarious financial position will not block any potential move after successfully plucking gems from the non-league scene.

He added: “Like a lot of non-league clubs, if they have got a player who has the chance to get into the Football League, they very rarely demand this, that and the other for them. You can usually work something out.

“Ryan Bird has done well for us and Jed Wallace came from that route – he was at Farnborough before he joined our Academy.

“If anyone is flagged up locally, we always try to get them watched by someone we know and trust. I try to watch them myself but it depends on the games.”