TOM Killick insisted new Poole Town signing Sam Jackson “ticked all the boxes” after twice impressing the Dolphins boss in recent months.

Left-back Jackson became Killick’s first recruit of the summer after six months on a dual-registration contract at Dorchester.

The 20-year-old, formerly of Bridport and Weymouth, signed for the Tatnam outfit following a busy week of business, which included six members of Poole’s squad re-signing for next season.

Discussing Jackson’s arrival, Killick told the Daily Echo: “Jack Dickson has re-signed and I am hoping Jamie Whisken, Will Spetch and Josh Leslie-Smith will all stay but I felt we needed a little bit more strength in that area to give us more options.

“I have been using Jake Smeeton in a midfield role, so I thought we needed a little bit more in terms of defensive options.

“When we played Dorchester I was very impressed with Sam and I saw him in another game against Beaconsfield and he impressed me again.

“He is only 20, he is physically strong and I think he is someone who is a good player now, with the potential of getting even better.

“And he is a local lad, he lives in Bournemouth, so he ticked all the boxes really.”

He added: “He just fits what we are trying to do. He has got an awful lot of energy, he is very athletic and he has scope to improve.

“He has found his feet at this level and done so very well in the short time he has been in this league. It is one I am very pleased to get done.”

Killick kept himself busy during his six-game ban in spring, including going back to watch Jackson in action from the terraces.

“Dorchester against Beaconsfield was one of the matches I watched during that period (of suspension),” said Killick.

“There were not many benefits from missing our games from a personal point of view but one was that I could watch matches I would not normally be in a position to see.”

While he was pleased to add a fresh face to the squad, Killick stressed re-signing members of his current group for the next campaign had been a crucial objective.

“New signings are great but keeping existing players at the club is just as important,” said Killick. “So far, we have been able to commit Corby Moore, Marvin Brooks, Luke Cairney, Jack Dickson, Adam Grange and Sam House.

“It is just as important for me to secure other members of the squad and we have made good inroads into that.

“We have still got some more to do.”