POOLE Town have bolstered their midfield with the addition of former Cherries midfielder Wes Fogden.

Dolphins will hope the former Brighton man provides a spark to their midfield as Fogden becomes the second new arrival at the Black Gold Stadium following the return of Toby Holmes.

The 34-year-old arrives with considerable promotion experience, joining the Dolphins fresh from helping sixth-tier Dorking Wanderers reach the National League via the play-offs.

With Poole harbouring ambitions of a return to the National South, Fogden’s four career promotions – including reaching the Championship with Cherries back in 2013 – will hopefully come in handy for the Dolphins.

Fogden, who is currently Head of Football for Elite Skills Arena based in Branksome, decided to move on from Dorking due to the excess travel across the country in the fifth tier.

Across a spell curtailed by both the pandemic and injury, Fogden made 34 appearances for Wanderers, producing seven goals.

On the verge of breaking into Brighton’s first team at 18, the versatile midfielder was setback when a spinal tumour was discovered, pausing his career for three months as he was placed into a spinal cast.

Via a mixture of loan spells and permanent switches, Fogden dropped into non-league, where, after spells with Dorchester Town, Bognor Regis, and Havant & Waterlooville, he was spotted by Cherries and brought to the Vitality Stadium, initially on a loan basis.

A two-and-a-half year stint at Cherries followed, with Fogden making 53 appearances, scoring four times.

During his time at Cherries Fogden trained and briefly played alongside current Poole midfielder Josh Carmichael, who was coming through the ranks at the Dorset club.

After departing Cherries, Fogden moved on to Portsmouth, before a spell at Yeovil prior to returning to Havant & Waterlooville.

Club Director Andy Rossiter told the Daily Echo: "Tom (Killick, Poole manager) and I worked really hard to get this deal done.

"There was a lot interest in Wes from other clubs, including the club he has just left. I hope this signing, as with our first, excites our fans.

"There will be more to come in the coming days and weeks."

Dolphins are ramping up their summer business, with the signing of a goalkeeper expected over the weekend.

Poole have been without a goalkeeper since last term’s number one, Mark Childs, announced his retirement from football in order to focus on his business ambitions.