MANAGER Ken Vaughan admits Poppies must display more ambition if they are to regularly earn a prominent place on the footballing map.

The Bournemouth outfit were founder members of the FA and Poppies are one of the oldest clubs in the country.

But despite that history and having been in existence since 1875, Poppies have been overshadowed by neighbouring Cherries after spending virtually their entire life in the Hampshire and Wessex leagues.

The Victoria Park club earned a place in the limelight at the weekend after defying the odds to reach the Vase quarter-finals – with their exploits hitting the headlines prior to Saturday’s loss against competition favourites West Auckland Town.

Boss Vaughan is hoping Poppies can use that record-breaking Vase run as a springboard to greater things – with promotion into the Southern League something he would like to eventually achieve.

He told the Daily Echo: “It would be great for the club. It would also be great for the Wessex League to have clubs going up into the Southern League.

“The Wessex League is a tremendous league. I would be disappointed to leave it but, having said that, I would like to go up to the Southern League with the club.

“It would be nice – but I would have to hand it over to somebody else, though, because I don’t think I would have the time to do that!

“It is a lot of work. Poole and Wimborne went up from the Wessex League and then they realised it was a lot of time, effort, money and travelling, with lots of things to be taken into consideration.

“But it would be great for us to go up there, get in there and have a go. Getting there is the main thing and you have to win the Wessex League first – that is the most important thing.”

The Vase tie against West Auckland attracted a crowd of 414 – far more than Poppies get for Wessex Premier fixtures.

Vaughan added: “If you start winning things, you will get the crowd here.

“I think we would like to do that and we need to get a bit more ambition in the club and see if we can push the club higher.

“I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t get out of this league and, maybe next season, we will have a go at it.”

Wimborne Town and Poole Town have both made the move from step five to step four in the past two seasons after winning promotion to the Southern League.