DORCHESTER Town chairman Scott Symes is relishing the prospect of implementing “new ideas” at the Magpies after a “refreshing” start to life at the helm.

Symes took over from previous chief Matt Lucas this summer and, while he admitted his opening experience in the role had been a “busy” one, the new head is keen to move the club forward.

He told Echosport: “I’m extremely positive about the appointment.

“It’s been a really busy summer of recruitment of players and getting where we need to be on that side of things within a sensible timeframe so we didn’t enter the season as we did last year with rushing to get loans.

“On the pitch, supporting Callum (Brooks, manager) has been positive and the rest of it has been looking at finances that come in, the youth – how that all fits into the bigger picture – and the community side of things.

“It’s been refreshing. It’s always good to get new sets of eyes to get new ideas. Those new ideas, we’re starting to put into place to make the club more financially stable.

“Not that we weren’t financially stable in the first place, but I suppose more of a financial footing so we can have a more cohesive budget management that can manage the first team but also look after the rest of the club in a healthy way.”

In friendly action, Dorchester Town Academy defeated near neighbours Weymouth Under-18s with a comprehensive 7-3 thrashing.

A magnificent Ben Morris quadruple put the Magpies 4-0 up, while a Charlie Gosney strike plus a Lewis Brazell brace opened a 7-0 advantage for the rampant hosts.

Weymouth stuck to their task well and scored three times, including a penalty, late in the 10-goal thriller.

Dorchester open their National League Under-19 Alliance League campaign at London Tigers on Wednesday, September 11 (2pm).