CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell hopes that Roy O’Brien will today officially accept the role of player-manager at Dorchester Town.

Mitchell offered the 34-year-old the vacant manager’s job yesterday afternoon and believes he is the right man to help stave off the threat of relegation and take the county town club forward.

Representatives of ex-Lewes boss Steve King, who won the Blue Square South title with the Rooks last season, had spoken with the club in regards to the Magpies’ hot-seat and although Mitchell revealed there were plenty of candidates hoping to succeed Shaun Brooks, the property developer was keen to promote within.

He said yesterday: “We’ve decided to appoint Roy O’Brien as manager, terms have been agreed and he should be signing the contract tomorrow morning.

“I’m not a great one for change and Roy is an obvious candidate as he’s got the respect of the players. We’ve not had a shortage of people wanting to come to the club but I’d rather have someone that I know and the players know. I think Roy will do well.

“He would be an added value to us in being a player-manager and with him on board now we can look to address the team for next season.

“He’s taken on a lot of responsibility and it’s a bad time in terms of the lack of money that is evident everywhere. He won’t have the biggest budget to work with but I believe he can get the team to do well.

“Obviously his immediate concern is to stay in this division and we’ve got a battle to do that. The contract is until the end of next season but if things work out, and I hope they do, it will then be way beyond that.”

The possible appointment of O’Brien looked a million miles away at the end of January when the defender was axed by the club as a cost-cutting measure.

The former Weymouth and Yeovil Town man was reinstated following Brooks’ decision to quit as boss and recently settled an on-going contract dispute.

Brian O’Donnell came in as acting boss in the wake of Brooks’ exit and took charge of four fixtures – winning one, drawing one and losing two.

Mitchell extended his thanks to O’Donnell, who had offered his services to the club free of charge.

He added: “We’ve thanked Brian for his efforts and he’s going to keep in touch with us to see if there’s anything he can help with in the future. I’m most grateful that he came on board and oversaw the games he did, and he will be rewarded for his efforts.

“But we’ve put our faith in Roy now. He’s well respected and anyone you talk to can’t speak highly enough of him.”