PORTLAND United have ended their recruitment for the 2023/24 season, manager Kyle Critchell has revealed.

Portland have enjoyed another stellar campaign in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division and are well on course to beat last season’s finish of 11th.

The Blues have been in the running for the play-offs for much of the campaign, although a winless run of five games has currently plugged them into ninth.

Sixth-placed Baffins Milton Rovers are now favourites to take fifth spot given they have up to four games in hand on the teams around them.

READ MORE: Fareham Town v Portland United - match preview

And Portland’s first team, while continuing to battle for the highest-possible finish, will favour continuity in the run-in over further additions.

“In terms of new signings, we’re going to go with what we’ve got until the end of the season," Critchell told Echosport.

“I think it’s an excellent opportunity for those young lads now to get a really good run of games, not having to worry about relegation or promotion and just going and enjoying themselves.”

On the continuity, Critchell said: “Basics and consistency will help us for the next 14 games.

“If we can get a similar 16 every week, that allows us to build some continuity and develop relationships on the pitch. That will help us.”

Portland's reserve team could opt for a different strategy with only four matches left to play in the Dorset Premier League, freeing up more players for Critchell and raising the possibility of loans elsewhere.

He added: “What we’ve got now is starting to come back to a fully-fit squad.

“There will be lads missing out. Thankfully, for the next few weeks we’ve got reserve-team football, which is important.

“After that, I can’t predict what that will look like. The most important thing is players playing, that’s really important in terms of development and the pathway.

“If we have to get to the position where we have to look at potential short-term loans and dual-registrations, then we’ll discuss those when they come up."

Portland travel to Fareham Town this afternoon (3pm).