POOLE Town have suffered the mighty hammer blow of losing top scorer Leigh Phillips to Sydenhams Premier rivals Bournemouth Poppies.

Phillips, who finished equal fourth in the Wessex goal charts with 25 last season, is best mates with Poppies' boss James Wood and has opted to link up with him at Victoria Park and turn his back on the Dolphins.

"Losing Leigh is a huge blow and it's no good saying otherwise," admitted disappointed Poole boss Tommy Killick.

"Up to Christmas he'd probably only scored about six goals, but he was doing really well by the end of the season.

"It's not only Leigh's goals we'll miss. As well as being a good player, he's an inspirational figure to have around.

"I've also lost my drinking buddy, but I think it's been slightly awkward for Leigh being best friends with the Poppies' manager.

"It's like being left for another man," he joked. "I've a good mind to go round his house and cut all his clothes up!"

Killick has twice been instrumental in signing Phillips, first as assistant manager of Salisbury City and again for Poole last summer when the frontman bowed out after two successful seasons at Old Sarum.

"Our loss is definitely Poppies' gain. There's no one better in the league than Leigh," he said.

Phillips's experience will be a valuable commodity for Bournemouth's rookie boss Wood, who had been hoping to entice Graham Kemp onto his management team.

Kemp opted to return to Brockenhurst instead and Killick said: "I think James might have asked Leigh to assist him and that's something that may well appeal to Leigh."

Although Killick is still working on the tough task of replacing Phillips, he has already completed two summer signings both of whom featured briefly for the Dolphins last season.

Former Bashley and Salisbury utility man Steve Strong played just one game before dislocating his shoulder, while Army defender Alan Jordan made two appearances but is now more regularly available after returning from a posting in Germany.

Killick is also interested in defender Ian Richardson, whom he borrowed from Salisbury last season. Richardson has since been released by the Conference South new boys, but has gone travelling and won't be back until October.

Poole also had their eyes on signing BAT's former Eastleigh midfielder Adam Lowther, but Gosport Borough beat them to it.