DORCHESTER Town have appointed Steve Thompson to succeed former boss Craig Laird as their new manager.

The new Magpies' boss will oversee training before taking charge of his first game away to winless Dunstable Town on Saturday.

Thompson, 54, has had managerial spells with Yeovil Town, Truro City and most recently was assistant-manager to ex-Weymouth boss Garry Hill at Woking for six years.

As a player, midfielder Thompson made over 100 appearances for both Slough and Martin O'Neill's Wycombe Wanderers and also had stints at Yeovil and Woking.

Speaking to Echosport about his fresh role, Thompson expects his players to "work hard" from the start of his tenure.

He said: "I've been out for the last four months. I've been involved in football for the last 34 years. It's only the second pre-season that I've not been involved in. 

"We've got loads of time, it's early in the season. Everyone is going to have to work hard to get us up that table. 

"I've only seen the first team play once, against Frome. I know a few players from years ago, but things change in football very quickly. How well the players performed years ago matters little.

"It will be good to work with the players and obviously the first game on Saturday is an important game in terms of the league table."

Magpies' chairman Matt Lucas said the club moved for Thompson, who has had three brief spells as manager at Yeovil, after being "impressed" by the "real passion" he had displayed.

He told Echosport: "Steve's done very well in football, first as a player and then as a coach and as a manager.

"After speaking to him as a panel of directors we were just really impressed with what he had to say.

"He's really excited with regards to the challenge ahead and we were just very impressed with his organisation and also a real passion that he has for us.

"We just feel very much that he is the right individual to take us forward. We're obviously all there to support him in those endeavours. He came over very well within our discussions and it felt like a really good fit."

And Lucas said Thompson, who was assistant to manager Russell Slade at Yeovil when the Glovers reached the 2007 League One play-off final at Wembley, is "looking forward" to returning to football after his time at Woking.

"I think it's fair to say that he's been without a club for a few months now and I think he's really looking forward to getting back involved.

"The time is right for Steve and we're looking forward to working together for the good of the club.

"We've spent a long time looking at who we want to bring in as a manager. It was important that we took our time in the process and we very much feel that Steve is the man to take us forward.

"We wish him luck and he'll be supported by everyone at the club.

"I'd also like to put on record our thanks to those who have applied and shown an interest in the first-team manager role," he said.