STUART Heath insists he would like to be part of the new-look coaching structure under Craig Laird at the Avenue, but also understands the new manager may have his own ideas.

The first-team coach and former Portland United boss, who has worked under the likes of former Magpies’ managers Phil Simkin, Graham Kemp and Mark Jermyn since arriving at the county town club, took interim charge as Dorchester picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at Basingstoke Town on Monday.

And staying as part of the Avenue set-up is something that Heath is interested in.

Asked whether he would like to work under Laird, he told Echosport: “I will just concentrate on working as best as I can. I have always done that, regardless of who it’s for.

“I understand football and I understand that new managers will always have certain people that they want to bring in. All I can do is do the best I can, which I feel I did at Basingstoke.

“Going forward, it’s the new manager’s prerogative of who he surrounds himself with. I hope I am a part of that because I have always enjoyed being at the club and I feel I have more to give to the club.

“If it doesn’t happen then that’s football. I am very relaxed about that and very understanding of how these things work.”

Commenting further on Laird, who is expected to build his backroom team in the next couple of weeks, Heath added: “He is an experienced man and he will have his own plans and a way forward.

“Hopefully that will involve these players because I think they have been a real credit to the club this season, after a tough start.

“I think it is all positive for the club. I think we have an excellent manager coming in with a proven track record at this level.

“The playing squad is obviously very thin, Craig will know that but we are six unbeaten, so we are doing well and acquiring points. I hope that continues because we have fixtures in January I think that we should be winning.

“If we do that, we will get in the top half, which I feel will be a good return for us and would be a good finish come the end of the season.”