WIMBORNE have signed Ollie Phillipson-Masters and Sam Griffin as boss Steve Cuss looks to assemble a squad capable of promotion.

The Magpies have moved quickly to add ex-Cuthbury utility man Phillipson-Masters from Poppies and lively winger Griffin from Christchurch as they try to emulate Poole’s promotion from Southern League Division One South & West.

The signings were announced just hours after news had broken that Cuss was close to persuading another former Wimborne favourite, James Stokoe, to drop down a level and return to the club from Bashley.

Cuss has already secured 10 of last season’s squad, including top scorer Micky Hubbard, goalkeeper Jason Harvell and player of the year Jon Blake. George Webb, Adam Costello, Billy Maybury, Jamie Davidson, Matt Kemble, Dan Ackerman and Paul Roast are the others.

Having the majority of the club’s transfer business done early will be music to the ears of new chairman Paul Miller, who targeted a place at the Southern League’s top table as soon as he was appointed.

At the time, Miller said: “We are looking to be promoted within the next two years. We will be pushing for promotion next season and we need to try to get into the Southern Premier. Everyone is aware of the importance of that.”