GRAHAM Kemp is determined to make his mark on Dorchester Town, starting by bringing a “feel-good factor” back to the Avenue.

The 49-year-old was unveiled as the Magpies’ new boss yesterday after a 10-month spell managing Hamworthy United in the Wessex League.

Stuart Heath, who has taken charge of the team on a caretaker basis following Phil Simkin’s dismissal last month, will stay on in his capacity of assistant-manager.

Kemp met the squad and coaching staff at training last night before tomorrow’s FA Cup first qualifying round tie at Yate Town (3pm).

Speaking to Echosport about the chance to manage a club at Southern League level for the first time, the ex-Christchurch and Winchester City chief said: “Dorchester Town is a great club and I would have been a fool not to show an interest in the job.

“It is a step up but it’s something I have worked towards, and I’ve been looking to get to this standard for a few years.

“I’m grateful that Dorchester have given me a chance, like I have done with players over the years.

“Jobs like this don’t come around every day and I felt it was now or never.

“This could be my last job in football and I want to give this a real go.

“I’ve worked hard to get this position and now I want to give it my best shot.

“I’m not going in totally blind. I’ve got a good idea of where we need to improve and where we are doing well, and I’m hoping the lads will pull with me.

“Sometimes you need to have a fresh start and that’s what I’ll be stressing to the lads.

“I’m hoping that the lads give me a fair chance as I will them and getting a feel-good factor back at the club will be the first aim.”

He added: “Every manager’s job is a challenge and the situation at Dorchester is a challenging one.

“My policy is to blood youngsters and local talent, which is good for people who have got promise.

“I’ve given a quite a few people a chance and some have gone on to play in the Football League and at the top of the non-League game.”

Kemp, who has watched the Magpies on a couple of occasions this season, said he is looking at making “one or two” additions to the squad “over the next couple of weeks”.

And the new Dorchester boss is fully aware of the sticky situation the team currently finds itself in.

They go to Yate on a desperately poor run of form and eager for any sort of positive result to help turn things around.

Commenting on what he expects from his players, he said: “Winning and losing is a habit that’s hard to get out of, so first and foremost we need to stop the rot.

“You’ve either got players who are going to roll their sleeves up and dig in or pack their bags and go somewhere else.

“I’m hoping the squad is full of the former.

“The frustrating thing about the Wessex League was that the commitment wasn’t always there.

“The Southern League is a bit more professional and if I pick a 16-man squad on a Thursday I expect them to be there on the Saturday.”

And on the task that lies ahead, he stated: “I wouldn’t expect to turn up and win 15 games straight, as much as I’d love to.

“We’ll take it game by game, there’ll be no quick fix.

“You have to have realistic expectations.”

Magpies’ chairman Matt Lucas believes Kemp is someone the fans can get behind, while his ability to nurture young talent was something that appealed to the club’s board.

“There was a lot of interest in the manager’s job but Graham really impressed with his enthusiasm to take up the challenge,” he said.

“Graham has a knack with finding and developing young local talent including Ben Dickenson, who eventually went on to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion, and Harry Cornick, who has recently signed for AFC Bournemouth.

“He has not managed at this level before but I believe that Graham is somebody that the supporters can really get behind and we are delighted to have him at the club.”

He added: “It has been a very difficult period at the club with regards to Alex Legge and changes in management.

“Hopefully this will give us a bit more stability as it can always be unsettling when the players know a new manager is coming in.”

Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Lanahan, Buckley, N Walker, S Walker, Smeeton, Gleeson, Crittenden, Cann, Joyce, D Smith, Agbo, Hanger, Godfrey, Brookes, Murphy