DORCHESTER Town chief Graham Kemp has said he would rather give players from the reserves a chance of first-team football than flood his squad with loan signings.

Kemp is used to developing from within during his time managing in the Wessex League – and he wants to do exactly the same at the Avenue.

Speaking before Dorchester host Parley Sports in the Dorset Senior Cup tonight (7.45pm), Kemp claimed that signing a loan player from a Football League club unseen was “lazy management”.

He stated that he would prefer to follow the Dorchester “club ethic” and go with someone from the reserves instead.

“I could just phone up Exeter or Bournemouth and get someone on loan who I have never seen play and know nothing about, but I think that is lazy management,” he said.

“Instead I would prefer to follow the club ethic and play a reser- ve.

“In the Wessex League you can’t have loan players so you have to manage your club properly, and you have to sign people who you know when you’re signing.

“At this level it is difficult because loan players play a massive part, and if I can’t beat them I will have to join them, but I don’t want a team of loanees if I can help it, and I hope people will appreciate that attitude.

“I have to find a balance but do feel better having people that have signed for the club in and around the first team.

“I only want players who want to be here now, and with two long midweek games coming up, I only want players prepared to knuckle down and commit themselves for the rest of the season and put in good performances.”

Kemp is expected to give some players on the fringes of his squad an opportunity tonight.

Elsewhere in the second round of the competition this evening, Bridport host Sherborne Town at St Mary’s Field (7.45pm).