NEW Poole Town boss Matt Tubbs has pledged his utmost to help Dolphins become a success, but urged patience ahead of a “natural transitional period” following the departure of legendary manager Tom Killick.

It was announced at the end of last week that Poole had sacked Killick after nearly 20 years in the role at Tatnam Farm, with Tubbs confirmed his successor the following day.

The former Cherries striker joins from Bashley in the division below, leaving what was his first role in management.

And Tubbs is under no illusions when it comes to the scale of the challenge ahead, replacing the club’s most successful manager whilst attempting to live up to pre-season expectations of promotion.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Tubbs shared: “I'm really excited.

“Obviously, I know that there's going to naturally be a transitional period for the football club.

“I want to go on record and say what Tommy (Killick) has done at the football club has been nothing short of remarkable.

“He's been fantastic for 20 years.

“There is going to be a natural transitional period at the football club. We know that.

“We knew what we were going to be walking into.

“We know it's not going to be easy for players, supporters, fans alike.

“We understand that.

“But our job is to try and patch things up as quick as we can and make this football club successful, which Tommy has done over the last 20 years.

“It has been a successful football club and our job now is to try and maintain that standard.”

Killick’s departure was triggered by a somewhat sluggish start to the campaign, with poor performances further undermining a return of 10 points from six games that betrayed Poole’s title hopes ahead of the campaign.

“I quite like the fact that that pressure is on because it keeps me on my toes,” Tubbs continued.

“Huge shoes to fill. Shoes that are impossible to fill, like I said, with what Tommy has achieved at his football club in the time that he's been here, but we can only deal with the cards that we've been dealt at the moment.

“We're going to fight as hard as we can.

“Just said to the lads, what you as the players need to keep is the togetherness that you already have.

“We will come in at the right time, we will drip feed our togetherness in together.

“If and when we get that, hopefully that will stand us in good stead.”

Asked if he had a message for supporters of his new club, Tubbs replied: “Tough one.

“I think patience to start with, I think that would be a good one.

“But as I said to the lads, I just want everyone to understand that we will do our absolute best to try and make this football club successful like it has been for many years.
“We will work hard and we just want everyone to stay with us and ride this crest of the wave and we will be okay.

“We will get there.

“The transitional period, it's not going to take a week, it's not going to take a month, it may take longer, but we will get there.

“The football club will continue and that is the main thing.

“We're here to try and help the football club succeed and I believe that we will.”