POOLE Town star Marvin Brooks is desperate to avoid relegation to the “horrible” Southern League.

The frontman scored 16 goals in 44 appearances as part of Dolphins’ squad who lifted the 2016 Southern League Premier title and gained promotion to National South.

But with Tom Killick’s men five points adrift of safety at present, Brooks is eager to evade venues he has less than fond memories of in the lower division.

He told the Daily Echo: “The players who were with Poole when we got out of the Southern League will remember it but might not remember how horrible it was.

“Tom tried to remind us of the places we could be going on a Tuesday night and on Saturdays.

“You have places which are not that common or easy to get to. It’s not exactly five-star football when you get there either.

“I definitely think people need to evaluate that and I am sure a lot of the players have thought about it and don’t want it. It’s whether people are prepared to stick their neck on the line to avoid it.

“We can definitely do it but it’s a worrying thing when you play well for periods of a game and, when you aren’t playing well, you aren’t able to withstand an onslaught.

“It’s not a particularly good place to be at the moment because there are a lot of players who are not used to being in this situation. It is only us who have put ourselves there.”

Brooks is set to be part of Dolphins’ squad on Saturday (3pm) when they visit Hemel Hempstead Town.

He made the decision to return to boss Killick’s squad in October following a controversial summer move to Southern League West Salisbury.

Quizzed on differences between the league structures, he replied: “I think it’s everything from the standard of the balls you play with, to the players you play against.

“It’s not nice when you go back to your day job and someone asks who you are playing at the weekend. You mention a team they have never even heard of – it doesn’t exactly feel you with pride.

“I honestly feel if we drop back into the Southern Premier League, it’s not going to be easy to go back up.”

The striker netted his first league goal since his return to Black Gold Stadium during the 3-2 home defeat to Welling last time out.

He fired home following a four-game ban which lasted seven weeks due to an array of postponements.

Speaking about his first fixture back, he added: “It was a strange feeling because playing at home you are supposed to feel comfortable. It was almost like I had forgotten how to play football!”

Hemel overcame Poole 4-2 at Black Gold Stadium when the sides last met – striker Warren Bentley scored a double for the hosts.