PORTLAND United have already received a boost ahead of next season, with as many as 13 members of their current squad committing their futures to the club for next term.

The Blues, who bring the curtain down on their current title-winning campaign at Pewsey Vale in Sydenhams Wessex League Division One on Saturday (3pm), held a players’ meeting this week to discuss plans for the 2016-17 campaign.

And boss Gary Bailey insisted that every member of his group that attended the meeting was eager for the Wessex Premier Division challenge that lies ahead.

“Everybody who was at the meeting has recommitted and re-signed for the club so that’s really positive,” he told Echosport.

“It was a positive meeting and everybody’s fully up for the challenge that we know we are going to go into next season.

“Without being over-confident, I am fairly certain that I am going to retain everyone I want to retain from this season.”

Bailey revealed that those who have already committed include the likes of skipper Lewis Whyton, vice-captain Ross Doidge, Ross Carmichael, Carl McClements, Alex Godfrey, Gareth Will, Shaun Bessant, Matt Camp and Sean Lillington.

He added: “I have the luxury this year of knowing before the end of this season where we are going to be plying our trade next season.

“I have been able to act quickly and have full faith in the squad going up. I said to them at the meeting that I fully expect them to go out and give a good account of themselves in a league above.

“It was important that I kept the nucleus of that squad together and the players felt that as well. It just shows what a great bunch we have got together at the moment.”

He added: “We are also going to look to bring some new faces in and it’s obviously an ongoing thing with any manager at any level over the summer.

“You are always looking to freshen things up. It’s a squad game and the squad has to evolve.”

PORTLAND UTD v TOTTON & ELING SPONSORS

Match sponsor: Jake Richmond Ceramics Ltd

Man of the match sponsor: Regency Dental Practice - Swanage

Match ball sponsor: Sid and Roma Flew

Match programme sponsor: Ross McKechnie