DORCHESTER Town's Academy team has withdrawn from the National League Under-19 Alliance League with five games of the season remaining.

In a statement on the Magpies' website, Dorchester said the decision has been taken with the players' education at heart.

The Magpies are currently 10th of 11 teams having taken eight points in 15 games, including two wins.

Managed by first-team captain Franklyn Clarke, the squad will continue to train and play friendlies.

Clarke said: "Our players, unlike all other teams in this league have to leave their various schools, colleges and work placements every Wednesday to travel and play, and it is felt that as they approach critical times of the education calendar that that time is best served focused on their education.

“The team will continue to train as normal and we will be playing friendlies with a variety of teams to continue the players' and team's development towards our plans for this group next season.

“We are very pleased with the progress we have made with the pathway to the first team. So far five of the academy players have featured for the first team this season, and four of them were in the squad for the recent Dorset Senior Cup final versus Weymouth.

“We will continue to build the pathway of developing players at DTFC as it is a critical part of the club's future."

However, the development is the second blow in under two years for Dorchester's youth section.

In August 2018, Echosport revealed the effective folding of the club's reserve team and its withdrawal from the Wyvern Combination Midweek Division.

Dorchester have long recognised the need to promote young talent, with the likes of Tom Blair, Ben Morris and Josh Williams just a selection of the Magpies' up and coming players.

Dorchester's Academy is set to announce plans for the 2020/21 season in due course.