Tom Killick has his say following Poole Town sacking

But there can be no more drastic a change to a club sacking their manager in the first month of his 20th season, just as Poole Town have done.

Tom Killick was relieved from his role at Tatnam Farm last week, just hours after his 975th game in charge.

Poole quickly moved on from Killick, appointing Matt Tubbs as his replacement less than 24 hours after the legendary boss’s departure had been announced.

The fallout from that decision has led to further upheaval, with four key players departing the club in the form of Will Spetch, Luke Cairney, Jack Dickson, and Corby Moore all viewing the move as lacking respect to one of the key figures in Poole’s history.

Having had a week to process it all, Killick spoke with the Daily Echo to discuss his feelings.

As typical of his spell as Poole boss, Killick’s first thoughts are still about the club, lamenting the exodus of players he felt could have been avoided.

He tells the Daily Echo: “The overriding feeling is sadness, as to how it was dealt with - such a big fallout, which could have been avoided.

“I didn't want the group of players to be broken up.

“That was the last thing I wanted when I left.

“I very much hope that the group would remain, or those in the group that the club wanted to remain would remain, because I do think they had a very special bond and there was a really good spirit amongst them.

“That's one of the things I'm most proud of, what has been created and not just now, but in the past as well.

“Because of how things were dealt with, players have reacted in the way that they have, which is not really good for anyone.”

The aftermath will be all but a small footnote to Killick’s successful tenure at what is currently called the BlackGold Stadium.

When he arrived at Tatnam Farm, Poole were just about to enter the Wessex League’s newly formed second division, the 10th tier of the pyramid.

On his appointment, Killick pledged a return to the Southern League, a promise he delivered upon.

Poole Town players celebrate promotion to the National South (Image: Andy Orman)

He even exceeded expectations, taking Dolphins as high as the sixth tier, a two-year stint in the National South.

He restarts: “The thing I'm really proud of is at one point, when we got ourselves into the Conference South, we were at least in the league above any other non-league team in the county.

“And even now, although we're a Southern League side, I would have to say that we're one of the biggest sides in that league in terms of our reputation, and that's taking into account that for a lot of the time we've been dwarfed financially, and in terms of our facilities.

“I felt that with the squad we had we could get back in the Conference South this year, and that's what I've always wanted.

“From my point of view, obviously, I'm sad that I haven't been given the opportunity of doing that.

“But the owner feels that in making a change now, then they're more likely to win the league than if I remained in charge.

“Time will be the judge of that.”

Perhaps it is surprising that Killick is not more up in arms just a month into his 20th campaign as boss, but a departure was inevitable in his eyes.

“I’d been very clear, to everyone, including the owners, and that if we weren't promoted, I wouldn't be carrying on,” reveals Killick.

“If we were promoted, I'd want to do another year in the Conference South.  

“But I’d been very clear that if we weren't promoted, I wouldn't be carrying on even if they wanted me to carry on, which I would have thought would have been unlikely anyway.

“But the big thing, it's just sad in terms of the fallout.

“It's sad I haven't been able to say goodbye to anyone.  

“But, I think now everyone just has to move on.

“I have to move on and accept what's happened, the club going in a new direction.

“My affection and respect for the supporters and the remaining players will always be unwavering.”

It is clear that a return to the National South, formerly known as the Conference South, was Killick’s final goal as Poole manager.

Relegation from the sixth tier in 2018 remains the only blot on his managerial record, and his biggest regret.

“I don't think there's a season - people may question this - but I can barely remember a season where we, in my view, we've underachieved with the finances available to us,” he explains.

“A lot of the time in my view, we've vastly overachieved.

“But the thing that I regret massively is the relegation because although we were a minnow compared to the clubs we were competing against, I feel that I got carried away with that first season when we finished fifth.

“I should have realised that we did need some bigger changes in personnel than I made.

“When we started the season badly, I was loyal to people who performed well over the promotion year and the first National South season.

“I was loyal for too long.

“That season is my biggest regret, for sure.”

The job at Poole Town was Killick’s first as a manager, the former non-league player of the year heading straight to the dugout once he finished playing.

Being involved in the game is second nature to Killick, but he contemplates whether a spell away may do him some good.

“I've never been without football,” continued Killick.

“We're not talking just about managing, but as a player.

“I’m 54.

“I've been walking out of the house at the weekend ever since I was probably about eight, nine, 10, whatever it was.

“So that 46 years of, other than the summer break, football being a big part of my life.

“I suppose there is an element that had I been allowed to finish in the way I wanted to, then perhaps it's less likely you're going to come back.

“As it’s premature, you're perhaps a bit keener to sort of prove a point, I suppose, in a way.

“But I owe it to my family to see how life is without it, and then decide.”

Four promotions, five league titles, and six cup competitions wins easily cements Killick’s place in Poole Town folklore, but the accomplishments and medals are not at the forefront of his mind in the days following his dismissal.

He muses: “Poole’s been amazing for me in terms of the people I've met, relationships I’ve formed, the memories I've got.  

“I don’t want to spend ages trying to justify my time in terms of was I successful, was I not successful?

“Honestly, it’s more about me just thinking, ‘well, did the majority of the players that played under me, did they feel I treated them properly?’

“And did they feel that, the time they were at Poole was positive for them compared to their time in football.

“Some of the reactions I've got, the answer to that is yes.

“So that's always going to be my biggest, biggest satisfaction.

“I know that I've got the respect and affection from the people at the club that I want it from.

“That's the big one.”

Asked if had anything else to add on his stint at Poole, Killick replies: “Thank you massively to the players, past and present, and to the supporters.

“Because they've enjoyed the good times, but they've also been really supportive of me through the not so good times.

“I just feel that they're a great bunch, the players, the supporters and some of the volunteers at the club are top people.

“I will miss them greatly.”

(Pictures: Ian Middlebrook, Andy Orman, and Corin Messer)