DORCHESTER’S Mark Derrien has stepped down as club chairman with immediate effect, Echosport has learned.

All-rounder Dan Belt is expected to take interim charge until a permanent successor to Derrien can be found.

Derrien departs his role after a decade of service and his tenure includes a hat-trick of Dorset Premier League titles plus regular county cricket at the Rec.

Under Derrien, the county town side has also fostered a greater push for inclusivity and proudly boasts one of the largest south Asian contingent of players in Dorset.

READ MORE: Dorchester leading way in Dorset cricket's search for equality

There is also an established and thriving ladies setup, while the emergence of the club’s youngsters provoked the club into entering a fourth senior team to the 2024 Dorset League.

All things considered, Derrien, affectionately nicknamed ‘Deadly’, feels now is the right time to step away.

“It’s mission complete,” he told Echosport.

“It dawned on me. I was watching the county game last Sunday. That was the one thing we haven’t cracked at Dorch, we’ve had low scoring in county games.

“This time, the weather was set fair, 500 runs and Dorset were very impressed and I think they’re going to play more and more county cricket at Dorchester.

“That just felt that was the final piece, because the other pieces are in place.

“On the field, we’ve won the league a good few times, the second team are really strong and are unbeaten, as are the first team, and we’ve got the third and fourth team doing really well.

“The Saturday stuff is going well, we’ve got two women’s teams and that’s going brilliantly, and we’ve got the county really impressed with what we’re doing.

“Off the pitch, the bar’s going great, the bookings are up, everything’s exactly how I was hoping to get it 10 years ago.

“That’s my vision accomplished, I’d say. I think it’s time for someone with a bit more ambition to take it on.

“It’s now for someone to take it to the next level, get Dorchester winning the league most years and getting the county down there for most games.”

And while Derrien referenced the achievements of Simon Mitchem in helping the club stay up early in his tenure, before James Dunham’s trophy-winning era, he will look back on his friendships as highlights.

“The reason I volunteered was for friendships,” he said.

“I’ve got some really good friends good there, Simon Joslin who I’ve played with forever. That’s a friend for life.

“Off the field, you’ve got the landlord Dave Caines and the clubhouse lead Tim Hill. Those two have transformed the club.

“I’m looking forward to having a beer with Tim and Dave, and watching Jos because I’m still going to come down and watch.

“I’ll be watching the third and fourth team as much as the first and second.”