9:12am Monday 15th March 2010
By Ky Capel
MANAGER Ashley Vickers has been handed the reins at the Avenue Stadium on a permanent basis.
The 37-year-old was made caretaker-boss on November 22, following the dismissal of Roy O’Brien, and has since led the Magpies clear of Blue Square South danger.
Vickers’ efforts in charge have now been rewarded by chairman Shaun Hearn, who claimed it was “an easy decision” to appoint him in a permanent capacity.
He said: “Ash has turned things around since taking charge and has made it an easy decision.”
The appointment of a successor to O’Brien had been delayed due to ongoing legal issues with former chairman Eddie Mitchell.
But, despite the new rolling contract for Vickers, there has been no resolution to the above legal action.
Hearn added: “Nothing’s happened yet but hopefully we won’t have to wait too long.”
Vickers meanwhile, who will continue to be assisted by Phil Simkin, is “honoured” to get the nod.
He said: “I feel absolutely honoured to take the job and to manage such a great club. It would be fantastic if we could deliver some success for the town.
“I’m honoured to lead such a fine group of players and slowly but surely we will get to where we want to be.
“I’ve had a great career and played for a lot of non-League clubs, as well as the England non-League side, but this is the biggest honour of my career. I will give it my all.”
The news is sure to give the county town side a lift following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Braintree Town.
Vickers was sent to the stand as Dorchester were left to reflect on what “might have been a different story”.
The Magpies were handed the perfect opportunity to take an early lead when they were awarded their fourth penalty in as many weeks.
However, leading marksman Matt Groves was denied and the visitors were made to pay as goals from Joe Bruce and George Purcell boosted the Iron’s chances of making the end of season play-offs.
The second home effort proved a difficult one to stomach for Vickers and his troops, as referee Ashvin Degnarain played a pivotal role.
Dorchester’s boss was so outraged by the intervention that the man in black dismissed him from the dugout.
Describing the inflammatory incident, Vickers said: “Nick Crittenden tried to play a pass on the edge of the box, the ref got in the way and as Critts made the tackle the ref deemed it a foul.
“So rather than give a drop ball he gave a free-kick, from which Braintree scored.
“It was an unfathomable decision but the ref did apologise to Phil Simkin when he saw him after the game.
“We were devastated by the decision, I was absolutely livid about it and he sent me off for it.
“I perhaps shouldn’t have said what I did, even though I didn’t swear, but I just felt he was Braintree’s 12th man. It’s an emotional game and emotions run high but I’ve been told there will be no repercussions.”
And Vickers was left to ponder what could have been a very different outcome, had Groves taken his season tally to 12 in all competitions with that early spot-kick.
He added: “To be fair we started off ever so well and got a penalty, but we did not take the opportunity. Fair play to Groover though for stepping up and taking the responsibility.
“We more than matched Braintree but they got a goal from a set-piece, which arguably shouldn’t have been given in the first place, then the referee had a hand in their second.
“The work-rate was phenomenal and we should have got a share of the spoils. It might have been a different story had we scored the penalty but I won’t lambaste Groover for it because it’s a massive responsibility and he scores 99 per cent of the penalties he takes.”
The Magpies are set to host Bournemouth Poppies tomorrow night in a friendly match. One man who won’t feature is Jules Emati-Emati as the striker has now left the club.
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