DEFIANT Taffy Richardson is confident Poole Town can win automatic promotion next season and insists: “The future is very bright.”

The veteran midfielder was introduced from the bench but could not prevent Dolphins from suffering play-off agony against Gosport Borough on Monday.

Poole’s bid to reclaim their place in the Southern League Premier Division after a 20-year absence was ended when Boro produced a late comeback to win 3-1 after extra-time.

But vastly experienced Richardson, 45, believes Tom Killick’s men have the ability to go one better by winning the division next term.

Asked if Poole had a good enough team to top the table, he told the Daily Echo: “Yes – you have got to think that.

“It was a massive learning curve for some of the players and they have learned well.

“We made mistakes on Monday and could have won the game, but it was another learning curve and it won’t happen again.

“If we had started the league at Christmas when Tom had brought in other players, we would have won the league. We were better than everyone – everyone said that.

“I have got no concerns about Poole Town next season.”

Richardson, who works as a firefighter in Westbourne, says Dolphins have plenty to shout about following their first season back at step-four level.

He said: “We wanted to go up but in the scheme of things, from where Poole have come from and not having a ground and being in the Wessex League, it is a dream but it is achievable.

“The club, as a whole, have got to be proud of everything they have done. The club has got the biggest fan-base, a great board of directors, good lads and Tom is possibly the best manager for many levels up. The future is very bright.”

Former Dorchester and Wey-mouth star Richardson made his 29th appearance of the season in the dramatic loss against Boro.

Marvin Brooks put Poole ahead in the first half and they were moments from victory when ex-Football League frontman Steve Claridge levelled in added time to stun a record Tatnam crowd of 1,716. Justin Bennett and Claridge then completed the turnaround in extra-time.

Richardson added: “We lost it, they didn’t win it, but you have got to take off your hat to them.

“Gosport have scored so many goals late on that they must have something about them. But as Tom said yesterday, it was just naive. Tom said what we needed to do and people didn’t do it.”