TOM Killick believes the completion of Charlie Austin’s drawn-out move to Swindon Town will finally allow his squad to learn to live without the prolific frontman.

Austin was due to be unveiled to the press at the County Ground this morning after signing an initial nine-month deal with the League One club, but the star missed Dolphins’ past three games waiting for the move to be completed.

And after the transfer almost fell through last week, Killick expressed his relief that the saga was now done and dusted.

Speaking ahead of Dolphins’ FA Vase first round clash at home to Western League Bishop Sutton tomorrow (3pm), Killick said: “I told him that unless he mentions me at least six times in the press conference, there would be trouble!

“But Charlie’s excited and it’s brilliant for him. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does.

“I was really worried it might fall through and that would have been tragic, so I am pleased it’s gone through. But it’s important we get on with things now and get used to life without him.”

Lee Lashenko’s men have made an uninspiring start to their Western Premier Division campaign, with three wins from their opening eight contests leaving them 11th in the table.

Previewing tomorrow’s tie, Killick added: “I spoke to Owen Pickard who I used to play with at Dorchester and he is managing at Barnstaple in their league. He has given me some information, but we got a lot of information on Willand Rovers in the last round and it didn’t do us much good.

“I think at this level it’s not really significant so we’ll have to see. We haven’t done particularly well against Western League sides in the past and their league position is possibly a little bit false. It’s a tough draw looking at some of the sides that are still in at this stage.

“The league is more of a priority this year, because it looks as if we are going all out to get things in place off the field so we can get promotion.

“Winning the league last year and not getting promoted was hard and I wouldn’t want to have everything in place off the field and then have us not win the league and miss out.

“To me the Vase is always such a long shot. It doesn’t matter how good a side you are – a difficult draw or an off-day and it’s all over.”

Killick is sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Nic Jones (leg), while Stuart Brown (back) is still sidelined.

Poole Town: (from) Jones, Ackerman, Whitley, Poore, Dibba, Lloyd, Browne, P Smith, T Smith, Gill, Richardson, Hubbard, Skelton, Preston, S Smith, Cook, Costa.