BOSS Mark Jermyn has reiterated his belief that if the current crop of Dorchester Town players stick together then there promises to be good times ahead for the club.

Saturday’s defeat to Hungerford saw the Magpies drop to 10th in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division, six points adrift of the last play-off place.

But while promotion this term would be greatly received, player-manager Jermyn insists this season is “all about rebuilding”.

As Dorchester prepare to host Hitchin Town at the Avenue tonight (7.45pm), Jermyn says the next couple of campaigns are key for his side’s development.

“One thing we’ve always got to appreciate, and it’s not an excuse or something we hide behind, is that this season is all about rebuilding, giving the players a focus, and trying to get a group together which we can work with over the next two to three seasons and hopefully progress,” he said.

“What I’m hoping is that we can encourage and build on the good parts and address and move on from the weaknesses.

“In my mind we have had three bad games this season. Yes, we have lost more than that and Saturday's wasn’t a bad game, there was just no real impetus in it and not as much spark as I would have liked to have seen.

“But it’s a learning curve and some of the boys have got to realise you come out of pro-football and have to learn to play on lower quality pitches.”

Neil Martin and Lewis Morgan are available tonight before serving one-game bans at the weekend, and when it comes to his squad, Jermyn added: “I’ve got no question marks against any of my players.

“I believe in all of them and if we have this group together in two years’ time with that experience they will be as good or better than any team in the league because there are some fantastic football players.

“However, I also know with my experience of football there has to be changes because some players can’t do it, so we have to make sure we pick the right ones to take us forward.”