DORCHESTER Town boss Leigh Robinson has confirmed the struggling Magpies have cut training sessions to once a week.

With Dorchester languishing in bottom position of the BetVictor Southern Premier South, Magpies’ supporters have swooped on the rumours, suggesting more training is needed to escape relegation.

However, Robinson defended his decision. The former Taunton boss insisted the move to train on Tuesdays only is due to poor attendance at Thursday sessions.

Robinson backed up his verdict by pointing towards his success at Taunton in which he deployed an identical scheme.

Under his leadership, the Peacocks reached the Southern League Division One South and West play-offs three years running before cantering to victory in the following season, amassing 100 points.

Asked whether training sessions had reduced, Robinson said: “Yes. I appreciate people will look at that and be frustrated with the league position.

“The thinking behind that is that previously we’ve had training on a Tuesday and Thursday – on a Thursday hardly anyone was going.

“My thoughts on training are to do one really, really good (session) rather than one where we’ve perhaps only got half a side there.

“It was something we did at Taunton perfectly successfully. Train once a week, do one good one when everyone’s there and everyone knows the expectations you have to be there.

“Do one good one and then look after yourself for the rest of the week. That’s something that’s worked for me before and I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t work here.

“I appreciate fans will look at it and say ‘you should be training twice a week’.

“You’ve got to factor in if not everyone can train twice a week then are you going to drag lads up from Plymouth and Bristol to train with only half a squad?

“You’re better off doing one very good one rather than two bad ones.”

Robinson was first made aware of poor attendances to Thursday sessions when he took the Dorchester job.

“When I came in I was told Thursday sessions were getting really, really low numbers.

“People have to understand these lads have got work commitments as well – they’re not full-time footballers and hardly anyone works nine to five any more.

“I’ve come in and said ‘here are your expectations – every Tuesday, every Saturday – that’s what’s expected of you’.

“There might be the odd Thursday if an emergency occurs but I just asked them to give everything they can on a Tuesday and Saturday.

“That leaves commitments in terms of work and family life very, very clear.”

Commenting on the battling 1-0 loss at Swindon Supermarine, Robinson rued “one moment of quality” from Marine.

He said: “On Saturday I didn’t see a single thing about this team I liked, whereas (Tuesday) I saw a whole lot more that I liked.

“We were down to bare bones again with the personnel we were missing.

“We asked them to play with a bit more pride and go out there and frustrate Swindon and be a bit harder to beat.

“That’s what they did. On another night we certainly could’ve come away with a point. We did restrict Swindon, who are probably the form side in the league, to very few clear-cut chances.

“It was one moment of quality, a good move from them, that won them the game. But those moments were few and far between.

“We did have the odd moment at the other end ourselves, but I’m pleased with the improvement. Still, we need to be picking up results.”