DORCHESTER Town goalkeeper Shane Murphy says he would welcome a fight for the number one jersey at the Avenue Stadium.

Magpies’ boss Craig Laird revealed in February that he had an approach for Wimborne Town stopper Gerard Benfield turned down, and with the manager looking to improve his squad this summer, Murphy says he’s relishing the challenge.

He said: “I had a conversation with Craig a few games before the end of the season and he explained that he’d like me around but no conversations have gone on to say that’s confirmed.

“He wants to play football the right way and get the ball down and play from the back, and that’s something we haven’t done very successfully this season. We tried to do it at the end but it got a bit hairy and had to go more direct at times.

“He wants to play in an attractive way and I’m more than happy to adapt to Craig’s style of play, and it will be a good challenge when it arrives if he still wants me around.

“Competition is always good. If I was at another club you’d expect them to carry two goalkeepers and I do like a challenge and would welcome it.

“It would make me work harder and if someone was to come in and try to take the number one shirt then I’d have to fight to take it for myself.

“It’s healthy competition and can only help as the club pushes forward.

“I’m still a Dorchester Town player, it’s a big club and it should be a big club in the Southern Premier division and realistically we should be where other people want us to be and that’s the Conference South, so I’d like to be a part of the side that can look towards going into the next league.

“The decision is out of my hands now and if Craig wants to keep me then that’s the way I’ll go, and if not I’ll have to put the feelers out and see what’s happening.”