POOLE Town’s hopes of avoiding more promotion misery this season depend on one final option – upgrading their Tatnam headquarters.

Dolphins are understood to have shelved, for next season at least, potential plans for a ground-share with Bournemouth Athletic Club in favour of making improvements at their current base.

The reigning Wessex League champions missed out on promotion for the past two seasons after Tatnam failed to meet step four ground-grading requirements.

But Poole have set about doing the necessary work to get the green light this time round and face a race to beat the March 31 deadline and meet the standards needed to gain approval from the Football Association.

With proposals for a permanent new home at Bearwood awaiting council planning discussions, the Dorset outfit need to boast adequate facilities ahead of next season.

Should they win the Premier Division for the third consecutive campaign, elevation back into the Southern League would be dependent on meeting stadium criteria.

The major part of the Tatnam project will see the ground becoming fully enclosed, as well as the installation of two turnstiles, which Dolphins purchased for £2,000, with total costs estimated at around £20,000.

Dolphins vice-chairman Chris Reeves is hoping the majority of the work will be completed ahead of the club’s FA Vase semi-final first leg tie against Whitley Bay on March 26.

While he is in positive mood, Reeves admits there is no guarantee the upgrades will satisfy the FA, who are likely to carry out an inspection at the end of the month or the start of April.

Reeves told the Echo: “We’ve been in extensive discussions with the Football Association and have had two visits.

“We have every reason to believe what we are doing will be acceptable, but until it is done we know we can’t be sure.”

The Echo revealed in January that a ground-share at the athletics stadium in Kings Park was one possibility for next season.

Dolphins were also believed to have discussed a potential deal with Weymouth FC before deciding the travelling distances involved made that not a feasible ground-sharing option.

The Tatnam possibility was explored and is now Poole’s only hope of achieving promotion this term.

Reeves revealed the Tatnam arrangement was intended as a short-term measure to enable promotion, tiding the club over until they can secure a permanent new home.

He expressed his thanks to Oakdale South Road Middle School for giving the green light for improvements to be made to the Tatnam stadium, which lies on land the club leases from the school.

• Poole face a top-of-the-table clash at Winchester City tomorrow.