Axed Terras midfielder Mark Robinson will officially become a Dorchester player early next week.
Magpies boss Mark Morris has reached an agreement on a two-year contract with the 29-year-old attacking midfielder and expects to complete the formalities after the weekend.
“We’ve done the talking and the terms have been agreed, now we just have to get down to signing the forms and we are meeting up next week to do that,” said Morris today.
“It’s an encouraging start to the summer search for new players and if Mark turns out to be as good a signing for me as Alex Browne, then we will all be absolutely delighted.”
Once Terras boss Steve Claridge decided that Robinson was surplus to requirements after seven years at the Wessex Stadium, Morris was always favourite to get the signature.
Magpies chairman Eddie Belt said : “When we met Mark his positive attitude impressed me straight away and he reminded me very much of Alex [Browne]. All he wants to do is play football and I am certain he is the kind of player who will fit in very nicely here.” Robinson could be a ready-made replacement should the Magpies lose another former Terras midfielder, Mark Rawlinson, as seems imminent. The ex-Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth man is on the verge of moving back to the North West to complete his teaching degree. “Mark is still under contract for another season, but there is a possibility he will be switching from university in Sussex to Liverpool because of a change in his circumstances,” explained Morris.
Another contract player who could also have played his last game for the Magpies after helping them win the Dr Martens Eastern Division championship and qualify for the new Conference South is Matt Hann.
The ex-Peterborough and Cambridge City winger, who joined Dorchester when he enrolled on a business studies course at Bournemouth University, is having a year in the workplace – and that could well be in London. “It’s about three times the pay he would get if he worked locally and if he takes it we could lose him as well,” Morris said.
Morris said he was hopeful that a move to work in Bath would not prevent former Bridport left-back Simon Radcliffe, who was kept out of the starting line-up towards the end of the season by Michael Walker, from re-signing.
“I have offered him terms but we have to sit down and talk through whether his working in Bath is going to be too much of a hindrance for us or him,” said Morris.
