Is Glenn Howes the acid test for Dorchester Town?

At Dorchester Town lies the biggest opportunity of his already successful managerial career – but arguably the biggest task.

Howes has to achieve what six other managers since 2017 have failed to do and take the Magpies on an upward trajectory.

It has been eight seasons since Dorchester finished above 13th and in that time the Magpies have twice been reprieved through null and void or curtailment of the season due to Covid-19.

During those seasons ex-boss Leigh Robinson, together with his successor and one-time assistant Robbie Herrera, have laid the foundations for recovery.

Among the ingredients in the Magpies’ tonic has been a change in playing style, with attacking, possession-based football at its core.

However, this season the Magpies have looked timid in the final third, often failing to capitalise on promising attacks or appearing shot-shy.

READ MORE: Swindon Supermarine v Dorchester Town - match preview

This will be one of Howes’ most important puzzles to solve.

There is undoubtedly a lack of confidence in a Dorchester squad that has on occasion this term given a strong indication of its ability.

Those indications have resulted in only four victories as Dorchester find themselves in 19th place of 22 teams in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South.

Optimism surrounds the appointment of Howes, though.

Dorchester have at their club a proven winner, a manager who has achieved back-to-back promotions with Blackfield & Langley.

Howes was in the middle of assembling an impressive squad at AFC Totton, who currently lead the division beneath Dorchester, before joining the Magpies.

And an impression of the good job he had done with the Stags came as the underdogs knocked Dorchester out of the FA Trophy last weekend.

And so for Dorchester the appointment of Howes is an acid test.

Glenn Howes became Dorchester boss last week Picture: DTFC

If a manager of his proven calibre cannot revive fortunes, then could there be a glitch in the processes at the club in terms of recruitment – both playing-wise and on the touchline?

For chairman Scott Symes, the targets remain the same.

“We’ve never really moved the goalposts,” Symes told Echosport.

“We’ve always wanted to be in the top half of the table this season. That’s what we’ve planned and budgeted for.

“I’m not going to change that because Glenn’s come in or Robbie’s gone.

“That’s where we need to be. It’s a significant shift.

“Getting top 10 is a major achievement. That’s where we want to be and we want to avoid relegation battles.

“We’ve been in one for most of the last seven to 10 seasons.

“Then, when everything else has come into shape at the club, financially, and with the under-18s and 23s and we’ve steadied the ship, our aspirations are to be in the play-offs and promoted.”

Should Howes go one step better than his predecessors it would be fair to say he has achieved his goal of taking Dorchester forward.

But should results stay the same the Magpies may need to reassess the process which has appointed the seven managers in little under five years.

In Robinson and Howes they have had two proven winners.

In Steve Thompson and Craig Laird they have had experienced heads.

And in Robbie Herrera, Mark Jermyn and Callum Brooks they have had managers who are largely unproven but armed with fresh ideas.

There are only a handful of types of managers left to try but, in Howes, Dorchester will be confident of rebooting their successful times.

A big challenge, yes. An insurmountable one, no.

It will be fascinating to see how Howes gets on this season – and whether the acid test is passed.