DORCHESTER Town's hopes of landing Salisbury City defender Simon Browne on a permanent deal this summer look slim.

The ex-Weymouth player, who spent a loan spell at the Magpies at the tail end of last season, has been offered a player/coaching role at the Whites where he would take charge of the club's reserve-team.

The 36-year-old helped City win promotion to the Blue Square Premier (formerly Nationwide Conference National) through the Conference South play-offs last term and he admits he is likely to stay at the club.

He said: "Salisbury want to keep me up there. Obviously playing opportunities may be restricted because we are going to have to increase the squad but everything is exciting at the club at the moment.

"A lot of work is being done to the set up and they want to get the reserves playing in a decent league, and to be asked to take on some coaching responsibilities is a great opportunity for me.

"It is early days yet because the season has only just ended for us but I am sure in the next couple of weeks I will sit down with the manager Nick Holmes and have a chat about my future."

Deal When asked whether he would consider a permanent deal with the Magpies, Browne added: "I was quite pleased with the way things worked out at Dorchester, apart from the results of course, because I enjoyed playing regular games.

"I think their manager Mick Jenkins wants to talk to me but as I understand it there are a few things that need to be sorted out at a higher level at the club before he knows what his budget will be.

"It is nice to have a couple of possible options and at 36 I have got to think a little bit ahead about three or four years time.

"As I said the chance to get involved in coaching at Salisbury is a great thing but I would be silly not to talk to everyone to see what is on offer."

Browne is now hoping to kick-off his cricket season with his new side Weymouth this coming weekend when he could face his former club Portland Red Triangle.

He said: "I am hoping to be available but I have only played one game so far this summer and that was a muck about friendly with some work colleagues. Saying that, I have done a couple of net sessions and I can't wait to get going.

"Weymouth has a very different set up to where I was before and I am not expecting to walk straight into the first team.

"I spoke to Steve Budd, the captain of the Seconds, last week and he said there is a good chance I might be able to turn out against Portland.

"I was at Portland for 24 years so it would be a bit ironic if my first game does happen to be against them. I am sure there will be a bit of a banter if I it is and I would certainly have to make sure I scored some runs."