STUART Heath is loving life at the Magpies and believes the club is heading in the right direction in terms of developing young talent.

The Dorchester Town assistant-manager has been linked with the vacant hot-seat at Weymouth since Brendon King’s sacking last week, but prising him away from the county town would clearly be a tough prospect.

Lee Hodges (ex-Truro boss), Frank Gray (ex-Bashley boss), Martyn Rogers (Taunton assistant-manager), Simon Browne (ex-Hamworthy United boss), Steve Riley (current AFC Totton boss) and Trevor Challis (Bristol City youth development phase coach) are some of the other names that have been connected with the role at the Bob Lucas Stadium, with Jason Matthews currently in caretaker charge.

Commenting on the speculation, Heath (pictured) told Echo-sport: “I have never liked people talking about other clubs or other team’s players because I don’t think it’s respectful.

“Dorchester is a fantastic club to be at and I have absolutely loved my time here ever since they offered me the opportunity at the start of last season.

“There have been some changes since then and although I have not agreed with some of it, I do understand it.

“The vacant position at Weymouth is a good opportunity for somebody and it has potential, but I also think there is potential at Dorchester.

“I do like the way the club is going at the moment in terms of developing good, young players and having a long-term plan, and it would be great to continue to work on that.

“Obviously opportunities do come along in football that you have to think about and consider, and I think most people understand that, but at the moment all my energy and enthusiasm is with Dorchester.

“Like I said, they gave me an opportunity and I would like to think I am paying that back at the moment by doing my best for the club.”

The Magpies have dramatically lowered their playing budget this season and currently sit bottom of Skrill South.

However, eight points from their last five games has been a dramatic improvement and Heath believes it is imperative they continue that trend.

He added: “If we want to build for the future we need to stay in Conference South to attract players.

“We have started to turn performances into points recently and if we continue to do that we will stand every chance.

“The teams above us are really looking over their shoulders now and we just need to keep pushing on.”

It is still unclear whether striker Brandon Goodship will remain with the Magpies.

The AFC Bournemouth youngster completed his latest loan stay at the Avenue Satdium last Saturday and it appears the Cherries want him back.

Dorchester boss Phil Simkin said: “There are no updates on that as yet and I am not going to pre-empt anything either.

“I am just going to wait until a bit later in the week and go from there.

“Brandon has been fantastic for us but I would be very surprised if we get to keep him.

“We had hoped he would stay for the season but he has improved so rapidly that Bournemouth obviously want to have a look at him.

When asked whether he has a back-up plan, Simkin asked: “I am making loads of phone calls and waiting for emails and people to get back to me.

“It’s a shame because the team is just beginning to get a reasonable shape to it but these things happen.

“We really appreciate what they have done for us and, if he doesn’t come back to us, we wish Brandon well in the future.”

*Dorchester Town Reserves travel to AFC Portchester in the Wyvern League Premier Division tonight (7.45pm). The Magpies currently sit six points clear at the top of the table but have played more games than the four teams below them.