FORMER Weymouth defender Ashley Vickers has agreed to become Roy O’Brien’s number two at Dorchester Town.

Vickers met with club officials last night and will leave fellow Blue Square South outfit Newport County in order to sign for the Magpies, where he will carry out both an assistant-manager’s role and that of a player once he puts pen-to-paper in due course.

The 36-year-old, who joined the Terras in May 2006 before leaving for Eastleigh in March 2008, is O’Brien’s first capture as player-boss of the county town outfit following his appointment on Friday.

Vickers, who played alongside O’Brien at the Wessex Stadium under then manager Garry Hill, is keen to do all he can to help the Magpies maintain their current league status.

He said: “Roy and I are friends and ex-playing colleagues, he expressed an interest in me coming down and hopefully I’ll be able to help out both on and off the pitch.

“Roy is a shrewd man who has got all the necessary qualities to be a manager. It’s just a question of going there and helping out on the pitch as much as I can and helping Roy off it.

“I’m getting on playing-wise but the desire to do well is still there. I only have one way of playing and that is to give it my all.

“I want to help the club stay in this league and go on to bigger and better things.

“I had a good time at Newport, everyone there was very good to me and I really enjoyed it. This opportunity though is something I was keen to take and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

And Vickers believes there is plenty of potential at the Jewson Stadium from which to build on. He added: “There’s been a lot of upheaval at the club but the players that are still at the club are there for a reason. We need to gain some belief, pull together in the same direction and hopefully get the results we need to stay in this league.

“I loved playing for Weymouth but Dorchester is a good club and their supporters are just as passionate.

“The club has some great players in the likes of Nick Crittenden, Mark Jermyn, Gareth Stewart and Kevin Hill and there is so much potential at Dorchester, which Roy and myself are excited about. It’ll be an honour to help them in whatever capacity.”

Vickers’ first appearance for the Magpies is unlikely to come tonight when Dorchester take on Sherborne Town at Wessex Stadium (7.45pm) bidding to reach the final of the Dorset Senior Cup.

O’Brien, who is delighted with the capture of Vickers, said: “He’s not registered for the competition so he won’t be involved. However, I’m very pleased to get him on board and quite a few of the lads are as well.

“He’s agreed terms so all that’s left is to sign the contract. I know him well and hold him in high regard, hopefully we can do some good work together.”

Ronayne Marsh-Brown (groin) is a major doubt for this evening while some members of Dorchester Town Under-18s could be handed first-team experience.

* Tomorrow’s intended Fans’ Forum has been cancelled.