PORTLAND United manager Dave Kiteley is in contact with two or three players in the hope of signing them for the new Dorset Premier League season.

Following the departures of Carl Mutch, to Hamworthy United, and Ryan Middleton, as well as the ankle injury to Dave Newland, Kiteley feels that his squad needs strengthening. "We need to bring in a couple of new faces.

"I've already promoted some of the reserve players to the first team because they have impressed me a great deal, but I have done the groundwork on two or three players in the hope they will join us."

One player who is training with the Grove Corner outfit with a view to featuring in the forthcoming season is cricketer Dan Belt. It turns out the Weymouth all-rounder is a handy footballer too according to Kiteley.

The Blues' preparations for the upcoming Dorset Premier League campaign are already underway with their first training session done and dusted, and boss Kiteley says the lads are working hard.

He said: "We had a good, hard, first training session. The boys know that they've got to do the hard work now so that they're ready for the start of the season."

A few of the younger players among those to step up from the reserve team have impressed already.

Kiteley said: "Richard Marshallsay is a good lad for the future. He's only 17 but is looking very confident, as are Luke Braund and Sanchez Baker who are the same age as Richard.

"They're all looking sharp, so too is Ben Simmons who too has come into the first team."

Five friendlies have been confirmed, all at home, as Portland start pre-season hoping to improve on last season's finish of third in the Dorset Premier League.

United will host Yeovil Town Reserves in their first friendly on July 26, the other four fixtures will be against Christchurch, Axminster Town, Longwell Green Sports and Chickerell United.

Following the sudden decision by Dorchester Town to pull their reserve side out of the Premier League Portland boss Kiteley isn't surprised by the decision.

He said: "The gap in quality between the Blue Square South and the Dorset Premier League is so massive that there is not much benefit to the likes of Dorchester to have their youngsters and fringe players competing at that level.

"What there should be is a reserve league where all the reserve teams from the likes of Dorchester, Weymouth, Salisbury, Bath and other South West sides can play each other each week."

Due to Dorchester Reserves' withdrawal the league's cup competition has been restructured.

Instead of a straight knockout there will be a first round group stage before the semi-finals.