TOM Killick insisted an FA Cup victory over Shaftesbury would not change his thinking that a shake-up of playing staff is needed at Poole Town.

Injury-hit Dolphins face the Wessex Premier side in first round qualifying on Saturday hoping to put behind them a dismal display in the 2-0 Southern League South loss to Staines Town.

The sizeable sum of £6,000 is on the line at Cockrams, plus the chance to compete for a further £9,000 in the following round.

But regardless of the result, boss Killick admits he is seeking to refresh his squad.

He told the Daily Echo: “The FA Cup is hugely important because financially we struggle compared to some clubs so we really need a cup run.

“It’s not an ideal time to play when you have so many people missing and coming off the back of a performance like the one against Staines.

“Our performance in that game was probably Wessex League level and we had some who performed more to DPL level, so we need to do something different.

“We have to try to make the best of it and the players have to try to respond.

“If we beat Shaftesbury, it would be easy to think all is well but it isn’t. We can’t let ourselves be deceived by the odd good performance.

“I’m under no illusions. There are some quite big changes which need to be made.

“We need to try to get some better players in and, potentially, make room for them by letting a couple go.

“We need people who have got proper character and can produce consistent performances.

“It’s not easy. You can’t wave a magic wand and get rid of two and get two in. It all has to work and we are under huge financial constraints, which doesn’t help.

“That said, you can’t deflect it all away by saying ‘just change the players’. I know that is a cop out so it has to be a two-pronged process.

“We have to find a way of being better but I think we need to change some players.

“If you are inconsistent, it means you aren’t good enough and at the moment we are inconsistent.

“People say ‘on our day’ and I hate that. You have to have a level of consistency and the players who don’t aren’t good enough players.

“Sometimes you have to make allowances with younger players but there has to be a baseline which you don’t go below and at the moment we have too many players who are going below that.”

Killick confirmed striker Luke Roberts would be in the squad at Shaftesbury after more than a year out with a serious knee injury.

The manager said: “Luke will be fit to play a part and we will be looking to get him on from the bench.

“It’s going to be fairly amazing to have him back. I haven’t seen anyone better in this league or the league above.

“But we need to give him time to get back to his levels.”