A DELIGHTED Gary Bailey hailed the efforts of his entire squad, after they secured their second successive Dorset Premier League title with a 4-3 victory at Mere Town.

The Blues’ boss, pictured, who took over from Chris Wilson at the start of the campaign, told Echosport: “I’m just delighted for the players because, over the course of the season, they have been magnificent.

“We haven’t done it the easy way and, at times, we have given ourselves mountains to climb, but fair play to the lads, most of the time they have come through it.

On securing the title in his first season with the club, he added: “It’s not very often that the champions’ job comes up, if you take a new managerial job usually you are trying to turn things around but my job was just to continue the great work that the players and Chris Wilson had done last season.

“I didn’t really feel the pressure until about a month ago when we got within touching distance of it.

“When we got to the cup final and had a little stutter I thought I might have been on a hiding to nothing, but we dug in and it’s down to the players who should all be very proud of themselves.”

“They have been a credit to me, themselves, the club and the island this year and hopefully there will be a big crowd at home on Saturday to see them lift the trophy.”