TOM Killick has vowed to be ruthless in the transfer market and take full advantage of Poole Town’s higher league status and financial stability.

The Dolphins boss has already targeted another promotion push after leading his side back into the Southern League Premier Division and says he has no qualms over picking the carcass of any local rivals who fall on troubled times.

With AFC Totton still struggling to settle their wage bill from last season and Dorchester Town announcing budget cuts, Killick admits it would be foolhardy not to cast his eye over his local rivals’ squads.

Killick concedes his war chest is unlikely to swell significantly, despite Poole’s surge back up the non-league ladder, but feels they are still well placed to compete for the region’s top talent as they enter a higher division.

He told the Daily Echo: “It is a difficult financial climate and you have to try to be ruthless and take advantage if a club is having difficulties. You can bet your life there would be plenty of clubs hovering around if we were having difficulty.

“It is biting at most clubs. No one wants to see others in trouble but you can’t afford to be sentimental about it. All managers know it is nothing personal – if you see a player that you want to sign then you do what you have to do to sign him – it is just what happens.

“I used to take it personally and got bitter with other managers and players for what you perceive as a lack of loyalty. But you have to take it in your stride, stay emotionally detached and realise they will make their own decisions.”

On Poole’s spending power, Killick added: “We have to be careful now. We spent more than we would have liked getting out of the league and are probably going to have to rein it in. It puts you in a difficult position when you’re trying to get out of the next league but, the fact there are cutbacks pretty much across the board, hopefully, means it won’t have such an impact.”

Killick confirmed he was already talking to a handful of potential new recruits but politely declined to name them while they were still free agents.

He did, however, say that he would be talking to former loan star Rhys Baggridge following his release from Salisbury City and that negotiations were ongoing with Michael Walker.

The Tatnam boss said: “I will have a chat with Rhys but it very much depends on what his expectations are. There are targets that we are actively pursuing and we are hoping not to lose anybody. Weymouth have formally approached Walks but he is happy at the club and I am confident we’ll be able to fend off their interest.”