BRIDPORT chairman Barry Williams and Derek Walkey will meet shortly to decide whether the player-manager continues for a third season in charge of the Bees.

All the signs are that both men would like the management situation to remain unchanged with Walkey carrying on to develop the side he led, against all the odds, to Screwfix Direct Premier Division safety.

But he has said he will not stay at St Mary's Field under the same conditions as last year. And that, essentially, means a bigger budget for a premier division campaign that promises to be even more competitive than last season.

Nevertheless, Walkey is excited by plans to redevelop the ground and clubhouse under the coastal and market town initiative, as revealed in the News two weeks ago.

He said: "I would like to stay if things are going to progress. There are big things planned off the pitch with the ground facilities and everything and I would like to be part of it."

But he wants development off the pitch to be matched by progress on it, and feels the business community has a part to play in it.

"You cannot get money that is not there," he said: "It is not just about the committee, not just the football club, the whole town needs to be involved if they want a certain standard of football."

Williams, one of the most successful managers in Bridport's history back in the 1980s, knows all about building successful football teams.

But there will be no silly money thrown at Walkey or any other manager. Apart from a disastrous spell 20 years ago, Bridport have always managed their finances sensibly - and that is not going to change.

Next year's budget will largely be determined by the success of this summer's sponsorship draw and the Spring Fayre on May 26.

Williams said: "To tell Derek we could give him another £500 a week would be fantastic. But there is no way we would do that if the books did not balance.

"Last year's sponsorship draw brought in £15,000 which was fantastic and that has meant we have gone through the season without being in the red -we have finished in the black. There is no way the club will pay out what it cannot afford."

Meanwhile, the Bees will be playing in a leaner, more competitive Screwfix Direct Premier Division next season.

The directors of the league have relegated Westbury United and Bristol Manor Farm to Division One and they will be replaced by promoted Frome Town and Batch City Reserves.

But with Taunton Town and Yeovil Town Reserves leaving, the division will trimmed to 18 teams and the 34 games will be four fewer than last season.