POOLE Town have completed a significant coup by tying prize asset Luke Roberts to Black Gold Stadium for the 2017-18 campaign.

Roberts' superlative form as Poole finished fifth in National South last term attracted a host of admires, with Forest Green Rovers – promoted into the Football League last month – thought to have been taking an interest in the attacker's development.

Nevertheless, Roberts, whose nine strikes in 40 games and string of eye-catching displays won him a trio of prizes at the club's end-of-season awards night, has committed himself to Dolphins for at least one more year.

Signed from AFC Totton in summer 2014, Roberts established himself in Tom Killick's side during the 2015-16 Southern Premier title-winning season, when he scored 15 goals in 42 league appearances.

His decision to remain with his current team will act as a shot in the arm for boss Killick, who lost striker Marvin Brooks to Salisbury earlier this month.

Roberts joins fellow veterans of the club's promotion season, Jamie Whisken, Carl Pettefer and Steve Devlin, in penning a contract for next term.

Poole have also move to secure defender Jake Smeeton, who joined from Dorchester in January, for the club's second National South season.