TOM Killick believes he could have gone further as a player had Roger Brown extended his stay at Poole Town.

Former Dolphins boss and Cherries defender Brown died on Wednesday after recent health problems. He was 58.

After finishing his professional career at Dean Court, Brown had a brief stint at Cherries’ south coast neighbours Weymouth as well as playing for the Dolphins before becoming manager in 1986.

His stay at Poole Stadium only lasted a season, however, after he was appointed by Division Four side Colchester United in 1987.

Killick, though, has fond memories of Brown as a rookie teenage striker at the club and revealed he had tried to carry some of his first boss’s skills into his own management career.

Killick, who spearheaded Wimborne Town’s FA Vase triumph at Wembley in 1992, told the Echo: “I was gutted when I heard that Roger had passed away.

“When I started at Poole I was 16 and I signed my first contract when I turned 18. He was basically the first manager I had there.

“He was brilliant. He was a massive guy and gave off an aura of being a really strong character and hard man, which he was.

“But when he dealt with me one-to-one, he was so good to me. He was a really kind bloke and one of the best managers I have come across.

“I have had the best and worst in terms of managers. I had some that were fantastic but some who treated me really badly considering how old I was at the time.

“He showed me how young players should be treated and I like to think that, in the main, I carry that into my style of management.

“He made a real impression on me. If I had had him a bit longer, I think I might have done better and gone further than I did.”

Dolphins, meanwhile, visit Mangotsfield in Evostik Division One South & West tomorrow (3pm).

Killick’s side started their campaign with a 3-1 win over Stourport Swifts at Tatnam, before going down 3-2 at Sholing on Wednesday night.

Killick added: “We competed well with them, but you learn as you go up the leagues that it is smaller margins between winning and losing and we just fell the wrong side of that on Wednesday night.

“On a positive note, I think Sholing would admit that it was evenly-contested throughout. We have to try to be encouraged by that, but the next two games against Mangotsfield and Thatcham won’t be any easier. They are two sides that I think will be up there at the end of the season.”

Killick is hoping Michael Walker will be fit to return to action after missing the Sholing game with an eye injury.