Extensive interview with Ashley Vickers

The 37-year-old has since led the Magpies to safety and now boasts an unbeaten league record on home soil.

Here, he talks about his thoughts for the future.

Does it feel any different now that you are the permanent boss as opposed to caretaker-manager?

“No it doesn’t feel different. I’ve just taken it one game at a time from the word go. It’s well documented that how I got the job wasn’t the way I wanted it to be because Roy O’Brien is a good friend of mine.

I thought long and hard about things at the start but it’s in my nature to do things as best I can. I’m thankful and deeply honoured that Shaun Hearn gave me the job permanently and I will do my best.”

Have you been surprised by the turnaround at the club since taking over?

“Things seemed unstable at the club before Shaun came in and I also feel there was an air of negativity around the club because of the perennial struggle with relegation.

But that’s something that the boys have managed to change. Equally though, Shaun has come in and put the club on a more stable footing.

There are no hidden agendas anymore without being disrespectful to the previous regime. Shaun has laid his cards on the table, everyone knows what a good man he is and that he wants the best for Dorchester Town.

That, together with the performance of the lads and their willingness to work and put in the maximum possible effort, has slowly changed the feeling around the club.

That can change again because one of the hardest things in life is to maintain standards. Shaun and I speak about that often and hopefully the feel-good factor will continue.”

Did you expect to achieve safety so soon, especially after the New Year’s Day defeat to Weymouth?

“It was a real kick in the teeth to lose to Weymouth, it hurt me deeply and it hurt Shaun as well. I vowed to myself and to him that we would get ourselves out of it.

We all agreed that if we stayed up it would be a great achievement. Things slowly but surely changed and I think there have only been two performances – that game against Weymouth and Good Friday’s defeat at Bath City – where things haven’t been quite right and I couldn’t put my finger on why.

But if I’m totally honest I perhaps didn’t play the right formation against Weymouth in the first half.

Then against Bath last Friday I perhaps made the wrong selection in the middle of the park when I knew that James Coutts was a little under the weather. He felt he could perform but we’ll both learn from that.

We’ve had 20 or so games now and hats off to the lads as they have done superbly, I think everyone recognises that.”

There were rumours that Gorka Etxeberria had an influence over team selection during the festive period. Was that the case?

“Gorka came over with a very good CV and he wanted to take training, which he did.

I got on with him ever so well and I really believe I could’ve worked with him but on reflection the way they play in Spain is very different to Conference Football. Gorka wanted to play a certain way, we discussed things but the final say was always down to me.

I took his ideas on board as I will always take any advice I can get but you have to filter the advice which is useful to you and the team you have.”

Much of the squad remains the same from when Roy was in charge. What has led to the change in results and performances?

“It was important that we reflected on the fact we had all let Roy down. We all spoke and I reiterated the minimum requirements of playing for Dorchester Town and the first one was 110 per cent effort no matter what, whether it’s training or playing.

And pretty much from the word go the boys took that on board. We’ve tried to implement more of an enjoyment side to training, which is ever so important when the lads are working in the day, and we just try to make sure the boys are all organised and know their roles.

The lads that came in after Roy left added some fresh impetus and that married up with the winners that we already had.”

When Roy left, considering you were his assistant at the time, did you ever worry that you would go as well?

“Football is a funny game. Roy had made his mind up and wanted to come to some form of agreement with Shaun.

For me it was just a case of trying to steady the ship and sooner or later someone else would come in and take charge – I was happy with that remit.

Nothing would ever come as a surprise or a shock but I just try to put my mark on things from the word go. Credit to the lads for taking everything on board and massive credit to Shaun for letting me bring players in straight away as it paid off.”

Following the clash with Mark Jermyn in the game at Bishop’s Stortford in September, at which point you were not the most popular figure among the fans, did you ever believe you would be in the position you are now?

“Things change so quickly. I play with my heart on my sleeve and manage the same way to a certain extent. Jem is the same character.

The incident was finished as soon as we came into the dressing room after the game. I said I’d take any flak that was coming and come back stronger.

Different players react in different ways, it was an unsavoury incident but we’re great friends and I wouldn’t change him one bit.

I got some stick and it wasn’t a particularly nice time but you can only use that experience to make you stronger.”

Now that Dorchester are faring better than rivals Weymouth, is it time to press home the advantage?

“We are trying to get our support-base up and trying to improve our work in the community under James Coutts and Jamie Gleeson.

We want to be the number one non-League club in Dorset and have a feeder system whereby we can pick and choose from the best young talent in the area, and children can have a positive time with the club.

Regarding Weymouth’s situation, it’s unfortunate. I had a lot of good times down there but in football there’s no room for sentiment.

While my feelings go out to them it won’t stop us trying to press ahead and keep the ball moving.

I’m sure most of our fans would rather have Weymouth in our league because of the derby days, but those days will come back I’m sure.”

What can this squad achieve next season?

“There’s no limit to what we can achieve as I feel we can go on and be successful.

The players we have signed have pretty much been great signings. Nathan Walker is one and I firmly believe he can play in the Conference National as he fits the bill. But I’d love to see him do that with us.

The striker situation is something we’d like to strengthen as a striker who can score 20 goals plus is something that goes with successful teams.

But Josh Llewellyn will hopefully prove to be a good signing. We perhaps need one more wide player but Neil Martin is proving he can fill that.”

Are you likely to play a part on the pitch next season?

“No, unless of course there’s an emergency.”

Do you have any future ambitions in management?

“I just take it one game at a time. That’s my only focus. I’m ambitious in everything I do but my work at Westfield Technology College is a massive part of my life and it’s important I continue to give that the same amount of effort. We’ll see what the future holds.”