'Being full-time is the goal'

Monday 20th December 2004

WEYMOUTH are considering going full-time next season. Club directors are weighing up whether to make the swiitch under head coach Steve Johnson.

Terras chief executive Martyn Harrison told last night's fans' forum that finances were being studied ahead of a final decision.

He said: "Being a full-time ctub is where we want to be.

We think it is the right way to go as a club and believe it wil allow to move to the next level.

"Being full-time would make it easier to attract young players who are hungry for success.

"We want to be as professional as we can and going full-time win certainly be another step towards that aim.

"At the moment we are studying the finances of making such a step and weighing up all the pros and cons.

"In many ways making the switch would not be that difficult for us because a number of the squad are effectively full-time anyway.

"By that, I mean they rely solely on their income from football and all that would change would be that they
would train on a daily basis."

Harrison revealed the club is now looking at a 6.000 capacity for the planned new ground as part of the Asda redevelopment of the Wessex Stadium, after recently stating a 4,000 capacity ground was the favoured option.

"People are not keen on the idea of a 4,000 capacity stadium, saying it is too small, so we've taken that on board and reverted to 6.000," he said.

He added the club remains confident the new stadium, built near the current Wessex Stadium, would be ready by August 2007.

Harrison stated that the deal with the supermarket giant involves the Terras receiving 15 acres of land and a cash lump sump.

The club are planning to build a stadtium featuring a two-sided grandstand, he said, with a training pitch
and speedway track also on site.

The development would also feature promotion rooms and accommodation for club players, fans were told.

A decision on the scheme is expected to be made by West Dorset District council next year.

Meanwhile head coach Steve Johnson hailed striker Kirk Jackson as his best signing since arriving at the club last month.

"Kirk has been fantastic for me, from playing and morale point of view," he said.

"He has been brilliant in the dressing room, bringing all the players together, and if I can get a few more like him, I'Il be extremely happy."

He added: "It's been a tough few weeks sorting out who I want to keep at the club and who should go and we're now close to getting things in order.

"I oniy want players at Weymouth who are as committed as the fans and the board of directors and who will be assets to the Terras.

"The aim this season remains promotion either automatically or through the play-offs and I firmly beKve we can take this club to where itwants to be in the future which is the Football League."