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Poole Town appoint experienced former EFL player as their new manager

Poole Town appoint experienced former EFL player Matt Tubbs as their new manager a day after sacking long-serving boss Tom Killick.

Tubbs comes into the club, who sit 7th in the Southern League Premier South, with 10 points from 6 games, two points from the playoff places and eight points behidn the league leaders Merthyr Town.

But it seems Killick’s time came to an end, a day after a 3-0 victory against Barnstaple Town in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

Replacing him is Tubb who was most recently manager of Bashley, who finished the 2022/23 Southern Leaguye Division One South season sitting 7th, two places and five points below the playoff places, with 55 points from 38 games.

Tubbs leaves Bashley sitting 10th in the same division this term, taking 5 points from 4 games and lost 5-3 away at Mousehole in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

POOLE STATEMENT

The Board of Directors of the Club have taken the very difficult decision to part company with manager Tom Killick.

He leaves his post with his head held high against a background of twenty years of proving himself as one of if not the most outstanding managers that our level of the game has ever seen. (975 games, earning five league titles, four promotions, a Southern League Cup triumph, and five Dorset Senior Cups.)

Certainly in all my years on the board since the late seventies he is without question the best. The decision was not taken lightly but for a number of factors the board felt that the best interests of the team were served by making a change now in the hope that the new incumbent was given the best opportunity to secure the promotion to the National League South that is so cherished.

How do you begin to pay tribute to such a man? Since the day he was appointed, one I remember so vividly as I was just so delighted to have secured his services , he has amassed five league titles, two second place finishes, five Dorset Senior Cup triumphs, one Southern League Cup.

So many managers spend their whole careers without ever winning anything! Tom has been a committed, passionate, inspirational presence in the dressing room and technical area for so long it is difficult to think of a Poole Town team without him as its leader.

He has generated huge loyalty from his players and is revered and respected by so many. The number of game changing team talks he has delivered over the years run into the hundreds and so many will stay with the players who heard them for years to come I have no doubt.

I feel privileged to have worked so closely with such a man for so long and will be forever in his debt for all the success and good times that he has brought to the Club I love. It is my fervent hope that we will not lose touch with him as a Club and that we will get the chance to honour his time with us in an appropriate manner at some point in the near future.

He will be a tough act to follow.

The Board have acted swiftly to fill its managerial vacancy and are delighted to confirm that Matt Tubbs has accepted the offer made to him and will move to the Black Gold hot seat following a successful managerial stint at the helm of local rivals Bashley.

Matt comes with an outstanding footballing CV having notched up 576 first team appearances for the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Salisbury, Crawley, Portsmouth, Forest Green, Havant and Waterlooville and Weymouth among others.

He scored 251 goals in his club career and also notched 2 goals in 2 appearances for the England National Non-League side.

We welcome Matt to the Club and look forward to a long and successful association with him.

Poole director and co-owner Andy Rossiter, said as per Bournemouth Echo:

β€œIt was a really hard decision as Tom and the team had bounced back last season after a poor start.

β€œThis season we have spent even more money in getting a larger, settled squad.

β€œSince I’ve been here I’ve nearly doubled the budget.

β€œTom and I have had a short time together and I totally love the man.

β€œI have huge respect for him. He is and always will be a hero.

β€œAlmost 20 years at one club as manager is an incredible achievement.

β€œBut I’m having a serous operation in early September, and I won’t be able to return until October.

β€œThe board felt if the form carried on into this period, then late October, November would be too short a period to win the championship.

β€œI’ve enjoyed working closely with Tom last season – my wife once told him he speaks to me more than she does.

β€œSo it’s really hard to see Tom leave.

β€œI’ve had the best time with Tom in football ever.

β€œI hope we remain friends, obviously he’s welcome here at any time.

β€œI know me, Chris (Reeves, chairman) and the board and fans would like to have an event to celebrate the brilliant time he’s had at Poole.”

MATT TUBBS’ CAREER:

Youth career
–2001 – AFC Bournemouth
2001–2003 – Bolton Wanderers
2003 – AFC Bournemouth

Senior career
2003 – Dorchester Town
2003–2010 – Salisbury City – 278 games (124 goals)
2008 β†’ AFC Bournemouth (loan) – 8 games (1 goal)
2010–2012 – Crawley Town – 79 games (58 goals)
2012–2015 – AFC Bournemouth – 42 games (7 goals)
2013–2014 β†’ Rotherham United (loan) – 21 games (1 goal)
2014 β†’ Crawley Town (loan) – 18 games (8 goals)
2014–2015 β†’ AFC Wimbledon (loan) – 30 games (15 goals)
2015–2016 – Portsmouth – 40 games (14 goals)
2016 β†’ Eastleigh (loan) – 16 games (2 goals)
2016 – Forest Green Rovers – 12 games (2 goals)
2016 β†’ Woking (loan) – 6 games (3 goals)
2016–2017 – Sutton United – 12 games (3 goals)
2017 – Eastleigh – 9 games (2 goals)
2017–2018 – Havant & Waterlooville – 28 games (8 goals)
2017 β†’ Weymouth (loan) – 7 games (3 goals)
2018–2019 – Gosport Borough
2022– Bashley

International career
2007 – England C – 2 games (2 goals)

Here’s how fans reacted as Poole Town axe their long serving manager and appoint the experienced former EFL player Matt Tubbs as new boss…

@minlongley: Do I detect a funny smell? PTFC is first and foremost a family. Let’s hope it stays that way.

@welshdragonptfc: Let me try and get my head around this, You sacked a manager of 20 years of service (1 relegation), ex non league player, and Vase winner .8th in the league and still in the FA Cup for an ex pro. Who managed Bashley to promotion last season currently 10th and out of FA Cup

@harrypduts: Welcome Matt, All the best!

@Polo_429: Wow! Fantastic appointment!

@ColinEricDavie1: What an embarrassment to your club. Hilarious.

@gailvcotton: Wishing Matt Tubbs all the best for the Future

@FrankieHolliday: Great career progression, don’t know where that leaves us but Good luck @MattTubbs

@jbafcb77: Matt Tubbs going to Poole Town as manager is actually class #afcb #ptfc

@jambojames1968: Obviously Matt Tubbs already lined up, shameful treatment!! Sounds like the club is now all about 1 man.. dangerous precedent but money talks always has always will..

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