ASHLEY Vickers hopes to celebrate with three points at St Albans City tomorrow (3pm) after learning that he will continue as the Magpies’ caretaker-manager until the end of the season.

Ongoing legal issues between the club and former majority shareholder Eddie Mitchell have delayed the appointment of a permanent successor to Roy O’Brien.

However, the Dorchester Town players have been impressed with Vickers’ efforts since taking temporary charge almost two months ago and chairman Shaun Hearn has decided to extend the 37-year-old’s reign.

Although tomorrow’s trip to Clarence Park remains in doubt, following heavy snow in Hertfordshire earlier this week, Vickers is readying his men for a “tough test”.

He said: “We’ll prepare as if the game is on because you can’t assume anything. I really hope it is on because we’re itching to play.

“We all want to get cracking and seeing as our last game was the New Year’s Day defeat to Wey-mouth we want to get that result out of our system.

“St Albans will be a tough test. I know their manager Steve Castle from my Peterborough days and he’ll have them ready. He’s a winner and his teams are always hard to beat.

“Having said that, in this league, perhaps barring the likes of Newport, every team can beat each other on any given day and there have been plenty of results this season that have raised eyebrows.

“Hopefully we’ll get back to winning ways tomorrow.”

Of the decision to extend his stay as caretaker-boss, Vickers added: “I’m not naïve enough to think that things can’t change in an instant.

“Shaun’s always been positive and given me full support from the word go. He wants the best for this club and hopefully we’ll get there.”

St Albans, who lie 10 points above the 17th-placed Magpies, are set to hold a pitch inspection later this afternoon.

A club spokesman said: “We’ve had four inches of snow on the pitch as well as the terracing and it will take a while to shift.

“A Football League referee should be coming down at 4pm to have a look. The last thing we want is for Dorchester to travel tomorrow and find the game called off, which is what happened last year.”

Dorchester, who beat the Saints 3-0 on the opening day of the Blue Square South season, are without Jamie Gleeson (pelvis) and Kevin Hill (foot).

Vickers (hamstring) is doubtful while new signing James Coutts is in line to make his debut, should the game go ahead.

Magpies (from): Coward, R Hill, Martin, Smeeton, Bowles, Walker, Vickers, Selley, Jermyn, Critchell, Nodwell, Devlin, Coutts, Critten-den, Moss, Groves, Emati-Emati.