DORCHESTER Town manager Craig Laird has praised the business of the club to secure Tom Blair on a long-term deal.

The young starlet has agreed an extension to his existing contract, which will now see him stay at the club until the end of the 2018/19 season, and the Magpies’ boss says it’s a deal that suits everyone involved.

He said: “The deal is a win-win. It protects Tom and give him chance to secure himself at Dorchester, and it also gives the club the chance to secure our better younger players as well.

“He’s a good lad and he’s improving every game now. It’s a good reward for him and all the hard work that he’s been putting in, so we’re really pleased.

“Like every manager, I want to keep our best players because we want to win trophies and get promotions, so I want the best players to be at Dorchester Town, and Tom certainly fits that bill.

“But he’s only young and has a great future in the game. If he keeps progressing as he is and that means him leaving the club in a couple of months’ time to go into the professional game, then no-one will be happier than me or the football club.”

“He’s going to be 18 next month and is already a good player. We all need to keep his feet on the ground, I know his mum and dad will do that, and we will as a management team.”