LEIGH Robinson has been named as the new Dorchester Town boss, the Magpies have confirmed.

Robinson, a former Truro City and Taunton manager, is joined by new first-team coach and head of development Robbie Herrera.

The duo will take charge for the Magpies' crucial BetVictor Southern Premier South contest at rock-bottom Beaconsfield Town tomorrow (3pm).

Dorchester, who sit one place above the Rams, had gone almost a month without appointing a permanent successor to Callum Brooks, with the Magpies' negotiations hampered by the festive season.

Since Brooks' resignation following the 3-0 loss to Met Police on December 7, former first-team coach Jody Rivers oversaw four games, taking two points, before announcing his exit on Twitter earlier this morning.

Rivers' departure paved the way for an announcement on Robinson and Herrera, with Robinson present in the stands for Dorchester's 5-1 loss to Tiverton and the 2-2 draw with Blackfield & Langley.

In a statement on Dorchester Town's official website, Robinson admitted he is treating the remainder of the campaign as a "four-month season in isolation".

He said: "(I'm) really pleased to be given the opportunity to manage this football club with all its history, fantastic setup and obvious potential.

"Clearly this season hasn't gone as well as anyone at the club would have liked and no question about it we have a relegation scrap on our hands, but there are still points to play for and a couple of wins changes everything in football in terms of the energy, momentum and confidence.

“There is obviously a lot of work to do on the footballing side as the squad needs more numbers as well as improving and this is something we have to address urgently.

"That said, there are still plenty of good players here and the team does have goals in it so there is something to work with.

"We basically need to look at this as a four-month season in isolation, try and forget what’s gone before, scrap for our lives during this period, get the fans onside and see where that takes us.”

Herrera, formerly of Plymouth Argyle's academy scheme, is under "no illusions" as to the difficulty of keeping struggling Dorchester in the division.

He said: "I’m delighted to be on board at Dorchester Town and looking forward to forging a partnership with Leigh.

"I’m under no illusions of the size of the task ahead but I feel that between us we have enough experience to move the club forward.

"We hope the club’s supporters will get behind us and help us climb up the table.” 

Robinson began his managerial career at Wellington, before switching to Taunton for a six-year stay that yielded three successive play-off campaigns in the Southern League Division One South and West.

At the fourth time of asking, Robinson led the Peacocks to title glory, scoring 100 points with one defeat in 42 games - Taunton also recording the only unbeaten away record in the UK.

Leigh, who is based in Exeter and has links with clubs across the Dorset, Devon and Somerset area, left Taunton in September 2018 with the side in second place in the Southern Premier South to take over at then National League South side Truro City.

Robinson is credited with improving results over a seven-month spell and was awarded the Manager of the Month award for November 2018 before leaving in March 2019 with new owners taking over the White Tigers. 

Former full-back Herrera, meanwhile, began his playing career at QPR before joining Fulham and making over 100 appearances for both the Cottagers and home town team Torquay United.

Herrera, who holds a UEFA A coaching licence, worked with Torquay United’s youth team and then went on to spend two years as the Gulls' assistant-manager, before being appointed in March 2018 as Plymouth Argyle academy’s Professional Development Phase Lead Coach.