PROUD Portland United skipper Lewis Whyton believes the Blues’ will take the step up to Wessex Division One in their stride next season and is targeting a top-eight finish in the division.

The island stalwart, who has turned out for the club for around a decade of his career, cannot wait to lead his troops into battle against fresh opposition.

Describing his initial reaction when he heard the confirmation of Portland’s promotion, he told Echosport: “I was over the moon.

“I have been with the club for around 10 years and I kept saying we should go up and it’s finally happened.

“There are a few of us like Ross Doidge and Alex Halloran who are all over the moon. We just can’t wait to get going now with pre-season starting in a few weeks.

“Now I am captain and have been for two years, it’s something I have always wanted to do to go back into the Wessex and captain Portland.

“I walk through Easton and all the old boys stop me and say they can’t wait to come and watch different teams at home and travel to different places. There is a real buzz around the place.”

The Blues’ captain, a former Terra, believes that the new challenge manager Gary Bailey and his squad face will attract more players from around the area to the club, but insists the current crop does not need to change too much.

He added: “When we were in the DPL (Dorset Premier League) a lot of players stayed at Weymouth Reserves because it’s Weymouth.

“Now we have gone up a level, a few players from Weymouth Reserves look as though they are interested in coming to us.

“Because we are now in a higher league, they want to try and test themselves.

“But we don’t need too much to change and I think Gary has three or four players in the pipeline. The nucleus of the squad look like they are staying.”

Quizzed over what he believes would be a successful league position for the club next term, Whyton added: “Top eight I would say.

“We finished second in the DPL last year but we had a few key players missing. Alex Halloran didn’t play half the season so he will be like having a new signing.

“Obviously we are in Wessex One but we will eventually aim to get back to the Wessex Premier.”

Whyton was also a member of the Blues’ set-up when they last featured in the Wessex League.

“I did two seasons in the Wessex before and then we came out,” he added.

“It was a bit of a struggle and we just couldn’t get the players.

“A lot of people and clubs in those days used to pay a lot of money.”