DORCHESTER Town legend Matty Holmes believes the Magpies were "asking for trouble" by playing such a young side in the Blue Square South but hopes they can "bounce back".

Holmes, who turned down the chance of returning to Dorchester earlier in their relegation campaign, said: "It's been a difficult season for the boys and I believe they've had a young side out there playing. It takes time and I know it's an old cliché but having a young side at this level in non-League is asking for trouble.

"Hopefully they can bounce back. If they can keep the same squad together next year, keep the faith and stay strong then this year's experience may help them and they can shoot back up the league again."

The former Charlton Athletic, West Ham and Blackburn man was asked back to the county town by director of football Shaun Brooks during the season but chose not to take up the offer.

Now running coaching schools for young hopefuls, Holmes, who left the Magpies after their Dr Martens Premier Division play-off final success over Tiverton Town in May 2004, added: "I'd only come back if I definitely, 100 per cent wanted to do something. You've got to make decisions in life and I'm 38 coming up to 39.

"I do think I could play for a few more years at Dorchester but with the coaching I do it's a great opportunity and if I had missed out it might not have come along again, so it was important I made the right decision.

"The last game I played for the club was when we clinched our place in the Conference South and it was a great way to finish.

"It took the club into a new era of non-League football and it was a tremendous achievement so I left on a good note and enjoyed my time at Dorchester."

The midfielder donned the Magpies' shirt on Tuesday night in the 6-1 defeat to an Arsenal XI for Brian Benjafield's testimonial.

Holmes said: "Benji is a tremendous servant to the club. Arsenal were sharp and had tremendous players so it was a difficult game for us but at the end of the day it was for Benji."

Meanwhile, Brooks is on the search for new recruits but has yet to tie up deals for remaining members of the current squad.

He said: "Nothing's happened yet, I've been meeting with some of our players and we are tracking five or six new faces. We probably won't be able to get them all but we are hoping to know more by the end of the week.

"Getting the players we want will be difficult because we've dropped out of the Blue Square South so we're trying to sell the club as best we can and what we have to offer.

"We have a budget to work to and we can't pay a fortune, so players will have a look around before committing themselves."