PHIL Simkin has hailed the efforts of the “brave” people running Dorchester Town, who he reckons gave the club a future when it didn’t have one.

The Magpies’ manager also praised AFC Bournemouth and the other Football League clubs that came to his aid throughout a troubled season.

Without the help of loan players from the likes of the Cherries, Torquay United and Exeter City, Simkin is adamant Dorchester would not have been able to get through the campaign.

And the same goes for chairman Neal Butterworth and those at the Community Trust, the joint majority shareholders in the club who came on board last May.

“In non-League football there are teams going to the wall all over the place and, if it hadn’t been for the people who took this club on, this would have been one of them,” said Simkin, who takes his relegated team to Whitehawk tomorrow (3pm).

“We don’t want to play in the Southern Premier League, we want to be a Conference club, but we’d rather have a club than no club at all because that’s what it would have been.

“They were very brave people taking it on and, to be fair to them, they’ve stabilised it and given the club a future when it didn’t have one.

“Back in May and June the club didn’t have a future. It’s run now by very good, honest and hard working people who I’ve gained great respect for over the season.”

On the impact the League clubs had, he added: “We’ve relied on loan players and the generosity of Football League clubs, and in Bournemouth’s case a Championship club.

“They have been tremendous for us and I’m not sure we would have got through this season without their help.”

While Simkin’s men will have to get used to playing at a lower level next season, the boss and his squad are already putting plans in place for what lies ahead.

He said: “We decided from last Saturday that we will play a certain way from now on, not just this season, and it will be about passing and passing and passing the ball.

“I really hope we are given a pitch to do it on because, if we have a pitch to do it on, we can entertain people “And if I get the sort of players I’m looking at then we will be very competitive next season.

“Believe me, there are a lot of players interested in joining this club next season because it’s a good club.”

Dan Way (hamstring) is the only new injury worry for the game against Whitehawk, with Simkin set to include some reserve-team players in the squad.

Brighton-based Whitehawk, still in danger of being relegated themselves, hammered Dorchester 6-2 back in August.

Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Lanahan, Way, Jermyn, N Walker, McCarthy, Smeeton, Chamberlain, Byerley, Losasso, Case, Munday, Makoni, Twyford, Murphy