DEFENDER Michael Walker could be set to make a return to Dorchester Town.

The ex-Magpie spent last season at Portland United and helped the Blues to Dorset Premier League success.

But Walker is the only member of United's squad yet to sign on for next season, and although Magpies' manager Shaun Brooks has played down the connection, Portland boss Dave Kiteley has backed Walker to make the step up following the arrival of Alex Browne as Dorchester's new assistant boss.

Kiteley said: "Everyone has signed except for Michael. I've spoken to him a couple of times and now that Alex has got the assistant's job at Dorchester he might try his luck there.

"Michael's worked with Alex before and respects him tremendously. I think he's good enough to play at that level and it's a good opportunity for him to stake a claim.

"As far as I know he'll try his luck in pre-season. Shaun doesn't know him so Michael's got to try, nothing's guaranteed."

Most Dorchester fans will remember Walker for his chequered time at the county town club in which he made 70 appearances, the first coming in September 2002.

When asked if the Portland man may be on his way back to the Jewson Stadium, Brooks said: "I know that Alex knows him and rates him but I don't know if Alex has spoken to him, so we'll see."

The county town boss is also hoping to unveil other new recruits in the near future.

He added: "We're tracking two forwards and a left-sided player. We've made our offers and tried to sell the club as best we can. One of the players I think we have a good chance of getting but I'm not too sure about the others."

Meanwhile, the futures of Jones Awuah, James Rowe and Francisco Ramos remain clouded.

Brooks said: "Jones is in Ghana at the moment, we've made an offer and left it with him, he wants a bit more but it's not money that he wouldn't get anywhere else.

"James is working at the moment and looking to go part-time. We'd like both of them at the club but we do have a budget.

"The problem with Chico, whose in Portugal right now, is that he lives in North London so I think he's looking closer to home."

* Paul Compton, recently replaced by Alex Browne as the Magpies' assistant-manager, has returned to Torquay United to head up their new youth department.

The Gulls have resurrected their youth team for the forthcoming season and Compton, former boss at Plainmoor, will now lead it.

* On top of their pre-season friendly matches with Poole Town, Hamworthy United, Portland United, AFC Bourne-mouth and Weymouth, the Magpies have arranged away dates with Ringwood Town (July 8, 7.45pm) and Andover (August 9, 3pm), and a home clash with Bridport (July 26, 3pm).