Waiting game
By Adam Summers

Saturday 31st July 2010

CHAIRMAN George Rolls has set the Terras just one target ahead of the new Zamaretto Premier League campaign and that is to avoid the drop.

However, finishing above the relegation zone could still be a tall order for Ian Hutchinson’s side. Not only will they start the season on minus 10 points but so far they have also failed to inspire much confidence in a host of warm-up friendlies.

Draws against Bridport and Portland United have caused some people to tip the club for a third successive relegation but assistant manager Andy Mason is not willing to even contemplate that and instead has called for patience.

Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s friendly against Longwell Green at the Bob Lucas Stadium (3pm), he said: “We knew it was going to be hard and that things would not just click overnight.

“A lot of the players are stepping up and the effort they are putting in cannot be faulted.

“However, the results have not been good enough and we know we need to bring in some experienced players but again that is going to require patience.

“If we were in a position where we could afford to pay out hundreds of pounds it would be easier to get people in but we are not.

“We are trying to make players realise that we are still a big club and that things are going to get better. But it is hard to convince them to come down sometimes, particularly when they can earn the same money at clubs a lot closer to home.

“It also makes it hard with Dorchester Town playing at a higher standard and offering better money just up the road.

“However, we knew this would be the case when we took the job on and we just have to get on with it. The aim this season is to stay up and we are confident we can achieve that.

“If we do then it will allow us to give it a good go the following campaign when we would be on more of an even keel.”

As yet the Terras have struggled to attract players this summer and some people have questioned whether Hutchinson and Mason possess the necessary contacts required to bolster the squad.

But the latter has refuted such a suggestion. He said: “We are speaking with contacts all the time and also talking to people we don’t know. However, many players are refusing to commit at this stage and are keeping their options open.

“People are always going to say things like that but if they saw the work that is going on behind the scenes perhaps they would change their view.”