VETERAN keeper Jason Matthews has backed plans to make the Magpies a community-owned club but has expressed concerns with the team’s strength in depth up front.

Matthews believes the agreement in principle between majority shareholder, chairman Shaun Hearn, and the Community Trust can work.

While on the pitch, the 37-year-old would like to see some of the pressure taken off striker Ben Watson but fully understands the club’s need to stay within budget in the present climate.

And despite the squad being shaved of a handful of players in the last month, Matthews insists Phil Simkin’s men are not feeling the strain at the moment.

“We’ve got a few injuries and niggles in the camp and the squad has got smaller but I wouldn’t say we are feeling the strain,” said Matthews.

“One thing I would say is that we lost a bit of quality when Jake Gosling went back to Exeter. He was outstanding for us and we miss him.

“Jamie Reid did well at the start of the season and he gave us another option up front and took some of the pressure off Ben Watson.

“It would be good if we could bring in another forward to help Ben but I know it’s hard from the club’s point of view.”

On matters off the field, he added: “I look at the news on the twitter feeds and read about it.
“I don’t quite know what difference the handover is going to make until things are put into place and that takes time.

“But I think it’s a positive move because it will bring the club together as a whole, right through from the under-sevens to the senior team.

“And if we can bring one or two players through from the youth team every season then that would be great.”

Matthews has had to watch from the bench after losing his place in the starting line-up to Alan Walker-Harris for the win over Dover Athletic.

But while frustrated at not being involved the keeper is determined to be ready when his chance comes.

“It’s really frustrating at the moment but that’s football,” he said. “You have got to bide your time and take your chance when it comes.

“I’ve got to keep my head down and do the right things and I’ve had a pretty good season so far so hopefully I’ll get another chance to prove myself.

“I wasn’t expecting to be dropped but you never know when you’re going to be put back in so you’ve got to be ready.”

Matthews is also positive about Dorchester’s chances of steering themselves clear of the Blue Square Bet South drop zone, saying: “Welling is going to be a massive game on Saturday and we’ve got some tough ones coming up.

“But I’m confident and I think the lads are confident that things will be okay.”

* Dorchester Town Reserves’ Wyvern Premier League home game against Christchurch last night was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.