CHRIS Reeves says Poole Town “must respect” Hamworthy United’s decision not to accept his club’s ground share proposal.

But, at the same time, Dolphins’ vice-chairman feels a one-year deal to share the County Ground would have “enhanced” Hammers’ own ambitions to gain promotion to the Southern League.

Hamworthy chairman Bruce Scammell told the Echo earlier this week his club’s management committee “unanimously” turned down their Wessex League rivals’ request.

Scammell added: “We sympathise with Poole’s position, but at the end of the day, we don’t think it would bring any benefit to our club to ground share.”

Reeves, whose club are hot favourites to clinch a third consecutive Premier Division title success, said: “You have to respect any decision made by a club in this type of situation.

“No club owes any other club anything. You have to look after your own position.

“If Hamworthy feel our proposal is lacking in benefit to them and they don’t want the financial benefits we would bring to the table, we would have to respect that.

“I believe our proposal would certainly have been financially beneficial to them.

“If they feel there are negatives that outweigh the financial gains, that’s their prerogative.”

Scammell confirmed Hamworthy wanted to secure elevation to the Southern League, especially now manager Simon Browne had turned their team from relegation candidates into genuine promotion hopefuls.

Hammers clearly don’t want to jeopardise their chances of going up by ground sharing with any club, Poole or otherwise.

But Reeves said: “I would have thought a ground share with us would have enhanced Hamworthy’s Southern League ambitions.

“It was only going to be for one season and we would have left them with a ground acceptable to Southern League standard at our expense, although we fully respect Hamworthy’s decision.

“We’re still talking to other clubs though and we’re determined to pull off a ground share.”

Poole need to find a temporary home that gains Football Association approval for them to be able to qualify to line up in the Southern League next season if they secure promotion on the field at the end of this term.

Their current Tatnam Farm ground does not meet strict FA criteria for the higher level.

Dolphins, who also had a previous ground share proposal rejected by Wimborne Town earlier this month, have submitted a planning application for a new stadium at Canford Magna.