POOLE Town boss Tom Killick has swooped to sign former Dorchester Town midfielder Mark Robinson.
And the ex-Weymouth and Gravesend & Northfleet star looks likely to go straight into the Dolphins squad for this weekend's top-of-the-table Wessex Premier Division showdown with AFC Totton at Tatnam.
Killick has been hit by injuries to key men Aaron Skelton, Taffy Richardson, Luke Whitley and Trefor Smith at a crucial time in the league leaders' season.
And after missing out on New Milton Town hitman Dave Ewen last week, Killick was understandably relieved to bag the services of Robinson, he hopes, until the end of the season.
"He was released from Dorchester by mutual consent just before Christmas," Killick told the Echo.
"I know him having played against him and with him when I had a month on loan at Weymouth, but Taffy knows him better than me so after I'd spoken to him, Taffy had a word and their friendship certainly helped get him here."
Robinson spent seven years at Weymouth before joining Dorset neighbours Dorchester in 2004.
But the Canterbury-born 31-year-old struggled to hold down at first-team berth at the Avenue Stadium this season and found himself part of a squad cut in December which also saw Hardy Pinto-Moreira and Nathan Simpson depart.
Killick, meanwhile, revealed he is still hoping to bolster his resources further, but insisted Robinson's signature was not a knee-jerk reaction to Ewen's snub.
He added: "Without being disrespectful to Dave Ewen, I see Mark as a more significant signing.
"Dave certainly could have helped us, but Mark will come in and not only improve the squad, but also potentially the strongest starting 11.
"Irrespective of whether I'd got Dave or not, Mark was someone I would have pursued anyway.
"I need at least two players. I've got one now and I'm still looking as we're short defensively now as well with the injuries we've got."
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