TOM Killick has all but completed his summer transfer activity by swooping for AFC Totton wide man Tom Price.
Price had found his first-team chances limited since moving to the Zamaretto Division One champions from Christchurch and spent time on loan at Gosport Borough last term.
And Killick has moved to beat off competition from Alex Pike’s outfit to tie the highly-rated 20-year-old to a two-year contract as the Dolphins prepare to embark on their own Southern League campaign in August.
Killick told the Echo: “He was on contract so we had to pay a nominal, undisclosed fee for him.
“I had seen him play for Christchurch before he moved to Totton and then I saw him on loan at Gosport as well. I watched him in the Hampshire Senior Cup final against Sholing the other week.
“I think he has been the victim of Totton having two exceptional wide players in Jonathan Davies and Mike Gosney so he has had limited opportunities.
“But he’s got pace and good feet and I think he has improvement in him.”
Killick has already secured the services of most of his Wessex League title-winning squad and could still move for a defender, with former Weymouth prospect Sam Clarke set to join the Tatnam outfit in pre-season.
Killick added: “I thought when I looked at the squad at the end of last season that we were short on pace so I was quite keen to bring someone in who has that quality and Tom certainly has.
“I know Gosport were quite keen to keep him after they had him on loan, so he has Southern League experience and I think he really completes what we are trying to do squad-wise.
“We have Sam Clarke coming for pre-season from Weymouth and I am hoping he will do well, but I don’t think I will be needing anything else.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here