MARK Jermyn is eager to get his players fired up for one last battle under his management on Boxing Day, as the Magpies lock horns with Ridgeway rivals Weymouth at the Avenue (3pm).

The county town legend steps down from his role as player-manager after the fixture, with assistant Nick Crittenden also set to exit the club.

With that obviously brings an added sense of emotion to the occasion for the home side and Jermyn is hoping his players “give it everything that they have got” to record a home victory over the Terras.

He told Echosport: “It would be great to go out with a bang and games don’t come any bigger.

“It just so happened that this game fell when Nick and I spoke (about leaving). We had an end date in mind and we said ‘why not end on the derby game, if the club will allow it?’

“Thankfully they have and I can’t wait to see my players go out and give a very good performance.

“I guess it is quite fitting to go out on what is going to be a big occasion.”

He added: “I would like to think that my relationship with the players is good and I would like to think that they would give an extra little bit to see me off well.

“For one more time, I hope they will give it everything that they have got, and that’s what I believe they will do.

“We are not going out for a draw, we are going out for a win and that’s all there is to it.

“We very rarely worry about the opposition and we won’t be doing that on Boxing Day.

“I believe we can go out, impose ourselves and get the points.”

Dorchester’s Matt Oldring is set to miss the clash through suspension but Jermyn is hopeful that Franklyn Clarke, the derby hero for the Magpies from last Boxing Day, will be fit to feature after having his appendix removed.

Commenting on Weymouth, Jermyn added: “We are five points above them at the moment, be it that they have games in hand. I think they have shown throughout the season that they have not started as they have wanted to in the league.

“They have had some good cup runs but when it comes down to the league campaign I think they have had a stop-start season so far.

“I know Jase (Matthews, Terras’ boss) and I know is he very keen for them to do well.

“Jase has made countless changes this season – I mean, they are on their third proper goalkeeper – it’s very lucky that he has the resources he has.

“We lost there at the start of the season in a very close game but I believe our team is stronger now than it was back then.”