BOSS Tom Killick has been content to take flak for Poole Town’s rollercoaster season – because it has allowed his players to “get on with it”.

Resurgent Dolphins are a point short of the play-off spots heading into Saturday’s clash with Swindon Supermarine (3pm).

Since being thrashed 5-2 by the Wiltshire side in mid-January, Poole have claimed 11 points from a possible 15 in Southern League South.

The defeat to Marine had ended a run of one victory in eight league games.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “It’s a balance – I want expectations at the club to be high. I feel it’s important there’s a mentality to win, to be in the top places in the league and to be fighting for cups.

“On the whole, that the spectators have been very good. I’ve had some criticism but I think that’s probably the best thing to do – criticise me and let the players get on with it.

“You are always going to get a few people who enjoy being critical on social media but every club has those supporters.

“Bearing in mind that at the beginning of the season I made it very clear I felt we should be in the play-offs as a minimum, and we’ve been miles away from that, I feel it hasn’t been a dreadful reaction.

“We’re competing with clubs with higher budgets. Financially, Taunton, Salisbury and Weymouth are streets ahead of us.

“It’s not a formality competing with those sides. We have to constantly punch above our weight.

“We’ve done it for years, and we have to try to carry on doing it.”

Previewing the trip to Marine, Killick added: “We know a fair bit about how they play.

“They are a good side and have been on a good run of form. They have one of the best forwards in the league in Stuart Fleetwood.

“But we’re starting to play with the confidence and proficiency that I expect from this group of players.”