DORCHESTER Town fans’ favourite Nathan Walker believes the Magpies are “too big” a club to play a league lower as they bid to avoid relegation from the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South.

Walker, who has now made 323 appearances for the Magpies after jumping off the bench late in Dorchester’s 4-1 win over Basingstoke, became new boss Callum Brooks’ first signing on dual terms with previous club Hamworthy United.

Elaborating on his move to the Magpies, Walker admitted it had not been a difficult decision to re-join his former club.

“Me and Dorchester have got history,” he told Echosport. “I look at their results every week, anyway.

“I’ve noticed they’d been picking up results, then they lose, they’re in the bottom three. Cal’s given me an opportunity to come in, work alongside him and pass my experience on to the younger lads.

“It wasn’t a tough decision to come back and help out in a relegation battle. It’s too big a club to be in the league below.”

Such is the talent within the Dorchester squad that Walker’s first impression was one of surprise, given their position of 15th, having watched his new side collect seven points from a possible nine so far.

“The players, since I’ve come in, with training and Merthyr away – I can’t believe they’re down there.

“They play football and they’re outstanding. They’re probably the best technical players Dorchester have seen as a group for a very, very long time.

“Credit must go to them, you can’t ask for any more. They put their bodies on the line, every second ball they’re winning.”

Walker also revealed the opportunity to help Brooks coach had provided him with a stepping stone to his own foray into a future coaching role.

He said: “Coaching’s the next part of my career. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still up for grabs if (Brooks) wants me to play. If he wants me to play, no problem.

“But with the players playing the way they are I don’t think I’ll need to put my boots on. I can just come on and see games out.

“They’re a very tight-knit group, they’re together in everything they do, like training. The boys are buying into what Callum’s saying and they’re listening to me and Trev (Senior, assistant-manager).”

Commenting on his own return to the club, Walker felt the Magpies’ fans deserved players who want to fight for the black and white stripes.

He said: “The Dorchester fans, all they want to see is people who try, and I give my all every time I put that shirt on.

“That’s what the boys did (against Basingstoke), they did it (at Merthyr) and at Farnborough.

“Since Cal’s come in it’s just been reshuffling them, being more organised.

“The fans are outstanding, when you hear them sing, that’s what this club’s been missing. Second half (against Basingstoke) it was them that pushed us on to get the third, fourth.

“If we played another 10 minutes we probably would’ve won 7-1 again! If they’re behind us, believing in everything we’re doing, it’s great.

“The fans behind us, from the dugout, it’s brilliant. Fans behind the goal, singing, it’s what you play football for.”