Players' wish realised

ROVERS have ended weeks of speculation and named Martyn Dorey as their new boss. Since Ian Ozanne took a backward step from the day-to-day running of the Priaulx side at the end of March, a number of people have been linked to the post. One of these was former North supremo Geoff Tardif who flatly denied he was interested.

Instead, the Rovers committee have turned to the man who oversaw a great end of the season for the Port Soif outfit.

In their last four league games the bottom-placed club lost to and drew with champions Bels, but also beat both Sylvans and Vale Rec.

In the Rawlinson Cup they defeated St Martin's to reach Monday's final in which they lost on penalties to Rangers after they had bossed the first half to take a 2-0 lead.

'It was heartbreaking,' said Dorey.

'The games over the last few weeks showed what we are capable of. We'll be looking to get more points than last season and to get a better finishing position. All the recent results we've had are a platform for next season.

'They now know that they can compete with the best. But our squad is so small.

'If we missed a couple of players, we'd be down to our bare bones.'

The 54-year-old former policeman hopes to pick up some new signings over the summer months. His small squad is not helped by the fact that three of the players (Mark Priaulx, Dave Moseley and Mark Hughes) are off to university and therefore will miss extensive periods of the 2006/07 campaign.

Dorey's is looking to fill these places and is also after a goalkeeper. Rovers went through five different keepers last season with veteran Paul Garrard eventually taking up a role that he performed for their Jackson and Railway sides as well.

'We've got a great group of lads but we've got a few going to university so we maybe will be short of numbers,' said Dorey.

'We had a goalkeeper playing for three teams so we need a keeper to join the squad for next season. I'd like a top-notch midfielder as well.'

Someone who was linked with a move to Rovers was North's centre half Michael Wilson, who was reportedly unhappy with life under coach Trim Morgan.

But with former junior coach Mick Le Prevost taking over from Morgan, it seems unlikely now that Wilson will leave.

Dorey also has concerns about anyone wanting to leave his side.

'I think if anybody wants to leave after the run we've had over the last few weeks then they are not committed to the club as they should be,' said Dorey.

One Rovers player whom other Priaulx clubs would like to have in their ranks is big centre forward Simon Tostevin who banged in 25 goals this season and struck up a good partnership with Jamie Ferbrache up front.

'He's been brilliant,' said Dorey.

'I can't understand how he didn't feature in the Muratti plans. Tostie and Jamie I think are as good a front pair as anyone else in Priaulx football working as a combination.'

Former island player Gary Stevenson will work with Dorey as assistant coach together with ex-Weymouth professional, Dean Willis.

Dorey claims the club's Priaulx players wanted him to go for the job on a permanent basis.

'It was the players who wanted me to stand for the coach's job so I put my name down,' he said.

'I knew I had the backing of the players and that's half the battle. Everything is geared for success at Rovers.