Hearn: Magpies will be sensible after money-making cup run (From Dorset Echo)

Hearn: Magpies will be sensible after money-making cup run

8:24am Thursday 13th December 2012 in Sport By David Williams, Sports Reporter

SENSIBLE: Shaun Hearn

DORCHESTER Town chairman Shaun Hearn has stated that the first-team squad needs to be trimmed before any new signings are brought in.

The Magpies’ supremo told Echosport it was “business as usual” at the Avenue in light of the club netting a six-figure sum for their cup exploits this season.

Hearn is confident Dorchester supporters won’t be expecting a sudden influx of fresh faces following the cash injection but did reveal some of the funds would go towards the building of the planned new function room.

“At the end of the day it’s business as usual,” said Hearn. “The money from the cup run does help to stabilise the club, which is great, but it’s not going to be life-changing.

“A lot of people have said a lot of nice things about us and a cup run can raise expectations but we can’t spend money we don’t have.

“We have to pay for things like policing, health and safety as well as two trips to Luton so even if you do well in the cup the money you earn isn’t all profit, that’s for sure.”

On the squad, he added: “We’ve got a massive squad at the moment and we are going to be looking at cutting it, not adding to it. We’re not going to spend silly money on players.

“The stability of the club is the most important thing and we aren’t going to do anything stupid, we’re not that sort of club.

“We brought a couple of lads in this season which we did for no other reason but to strengthen the squad in the areas the management felt we needed to.”

Dorchester’s run to the second round of the FA Cup, including the dramatic 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle – the club earned just under £65,000 for the match being shown live on ESPN – has already made it a memorable season for Hearn.

With the Blue Square Bet South table so tight there is also the possibility of a shot at the play-offs.

“Whatever happens from now on we’ve had a fantastic season and I’m happy with the number of points we’ve got at the moment,” he added.

“The sooner we get to 40 the better but the whole club should be proud of our achievements.

“We’ll have a crack at getting into the play-offs but that remains to be seen. There are about 12 teams who are looking to do that too and we are going into a really busy period where the games come thick and fast.

“It’s a strong league and anyone can beat anyone. You can be as close to promotion as you are to relegation and we have got a squad that on their day is capable of getting the results.

“As a club we want to continue to move forward and stability is the most important thing.”