DORCHESTER Town chairman Matt Lucas insists the club have received “a good number of applications” for the soon-to-be-vacant managerial role at the Avenue.

However, he claimed the club will not rush into making a decision as to who will succeed Mark Jermyn and assistant Nick Crittenden on a permanent basis, following their final game against Weymouth on Boxing Day.

Short-term plans have been put in place for the Magpies on the playing side however, with first-team coach Stuart Heath stepping up to lead the side after Boxing Day – he will be aided by Nathan Walker, who recently celebrated his 300th game for the club.

Speaking about the club’s search for a new permanent boss, Lucas told Echosport: “We have received a good number of applications already and have elected a sub-committee from the board that will look into appointing a new manager.

“We are not going to rush in making the decision, we need to make sure that we make the right choice.

“We will work swiftly but at the same time we will work thoroughly and we will make sure that the new person is the best possible person for the club at this particular time.”

He continued: “In the interim after Boxing Day – and we don’t know how long it will take until the new manager is in place – Stuart Heath will look after the team and he will be aided by Nathan Walker.

“Obviously Stuart has been with the club for a long time now and, at this time, we need to have as much settlement as we can.

“With regards to Nathan, wherever you play him and whatever he is doing around the club, he is very much a leader. We know that in his footballing ability, and we also feel he will be a good aid for Stuart to use off the pitch as well.

“We wanted to make sure that, for the moment, the squad was as settled as they could be and the board felt that with Stuart being aided by Nathan, it gave us a good chance of that.”

Lucas was also present as directors and players had a meeting together on Tuesday evening to discuss the future, and he believed that was a positive step.

“The whole board were present with the players, we had a good chat and we were able to answer any questions that the players had,” he added.

“Questions were answered and it was a positive time.”

Also asked by Echosport about the situation regarding the club’s playing budget, the chairman added: “With regards to that, I don’t think there is any secret from the fact that we had to bring the budget back.

“Jem has effectively done that to the instruction that he was given."