MARK Jermyn has promised more signings after Dorchester announced the re-signing of five of last year’s first team as well as the capture of Ben Wood from Bideford.

Club captain Jake Smeeton and vice-captain Nathan Walker have agreed new deals as well as Shane Murphy, Matt Oldring and Jason Brookes.

Speaking about his first batch of confirmed players, the manager said: “We’re getting our core group back together and that was important

“People are reading too much into the fact that players are going. Some of the players that have gone would have gone anyway.

“We have a small squad, and in my mind we’ve got a basis of a squad.

“It is giving us the opportunity to go back out there and see what players are available.”

This comes as a welcome boost to the Magpies after they saw Luke Holmes, Tom Holmes and Charlie Davis leave the Avenue in recent times and Jermyn is in contact with a number of players that he hopes to bring in.

One of these is Ben Wood. The utility player has played more than 200 times for Bideford in his career and he also trialled for the Magpies nine years ago.

Jermyn chased the attacker last season and was thrilled to bring the Sherborne-based player to the club.

He added: “He’s someone who we looked at last season but we couldn’t bring him in.Now we’ve got him, he will bring us pace and experience to manage the games.

“If we can identify another striker – we’d like another two – then we want to bring in someone who can complement him because I think he’s going to do well for us next season here.”

Speaking about the deal, Ben Wood said: “They spoke to me over the summer about what they’re doing here and I like the sound of it.

“I’ve always fancied coming here and now I’m looking forward to coming here.”

The attacking player has a reputation to be hard-working and he has promised his work ethic on the pitch won’t change.

“I leave everything out on the pitch,” he explained.

“I give 100 per cent no matter what and I won’t stop trying.

“I’ll do whatever for the club. I am a striker but I’ll play wherever for them. I’m very selfless.”

With Wood coming in, he brings in a wealth of experience but his manager is looking to add both younger and older heads to the dressing room.

Jermyn remarked: “We’re in conversations with everybody. We’re looking for a player to have a great relationship with both me and the club.

“They have to want to play for Dorchester and we have to remain patient.

“I would ask people to bear with us and not to read too much into the players we don’t sign.”

Another person to sign a new deal is Jermyn himself, extending his stay at the Avenue.