EMOTIONAL Poole Town boss Tom Killick bid farewell to Nick Hutchings and left the door open for the experienced goalkeeper to return.

Hutchings was a key member of the Dolphins side which climbed from the Wessex League to National South, also playing his part in two Dorset Senior Cup triumphs and one Southern League Cup success.

He kept no fewer than 136 clean sheets in 337 games and was named non-league goalkeeper of the year for the 2012-13 season.

Hutchings, who also kept a club-record seven clean sheets in a row, was involved in a Poole squad for the final time last Saturday, being an unused substitute for the FA Cup win over Cinderford.

He had asked for his contract to be terminated after slipping behind Luke Cairney in the pecking order, a request which was granted.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “Hutch has decided to leave the club and I fully respect and understand the decision. He is too good a goalkeeper to be a number two.

“He wanted to play and after everything he had done for the club, we weren’t going to turn round and say no. He deserves better than that.

“He has been so instrumental in our success over the years. The players are a very close-knit group and it is a big body blow to lose him, not just as a goalkeeper but as a man.

“I’m very sorry to see him go but I feel he has made an amazing contribution and, hopefully, he will take a lot of pleasure from it.

“I always say I like people to contribute in all ways at the club.

“I feel that when you bring in a player, you want him to contribute on and off the field. You want him to be a character who becomes a strong part of the fabric of what you are trying to create.

“He was certainly that so he will be sorely missed.”

“He will always be remembered here and we hope things go well for him going forward.

“You never say never. Perhaps the door could be open for him in future.”

Hutchings is set to be inducted into Poole’s hall of fame and Killick predicts the stopper has plenty of good seasons left in him.

Killick said: “I made a decision to make a change and since Luke has come in, he has done very well.

“But Hutch is an exceptional goalkeeper. I hope in the first instance he gets out and plays somewhere and who knows what the future holds?

“He could play for another five years without too much difficulty. He is a very good goalkeeper and wherever he ends up, they will be very lucky to have him.”

Tenth-place Poole host Farnborough in Southern League South on Saturday (3pm).

Killick added: “They seem a good side, particularly going forward.

“Our league position is not what we want it to be so this game is crucial for us.

“In terms of the squad, we are starting to fill up the tank regarding where we need to be to drive us forward.

“Suddenly, there are decisions to make.”