DORCHESTER Town are determined to keep hold of star midfielder Charlie Gunson for the 2023/24 season, boss Glenn Howes has revealed.

Gunson has netted ten times in the league this season, outscoring striker Alfie Stanley and nestling just two goals shy of Shaq Gwengwe (12).

His form, including several beautiful free-kicks from long range, helped win him players’ and fans’ player of the season at the Avenue Stadium.

Gunson attracted interest from other clubs during the summer but was eventually convinced to sign with the Magpies.

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And Howes made no secret of his desire to work with the former Wimborne, Totton and Blackfield & Langley maestro in 2023/24.

He told Echosport: “Charlie’s situation is no different to a number of players in our squad.

“There’s a number who’ve had good seasons and when you have good seasons it does generate interest from opposition and rightly so.

“Time will tell whether we have trouble keeping hold of Charlie. Invariably, I always feel the players’ future is in their own hands rather than the club’s.

“We only want players at the club who want to play for Dorchester Town. If a player comes to us and sees their future elsewhere, then we will respect that.

“We would very much like Charlie to continue his stay at Dorchester, that’s for sure.”

On Gunson’s form, Howes added: “What pleases me most about Charlie’s situation is that he came to us last year and was the first player we signed.

“We knew what the lad is capable of at Step 3 and he potentially could play a little bit higher because he’s still a young lad.

“We’ve played him in a slightly different (more advanced) position this year and he’s had to weather a bit of criticism last year, as we do.

“He’s gone away and had options to go elsewhere. I think it was quite well recognised that he did leave, he took the decision to talk to other teams.

“He listened to other projects and how he would fit into other teams. It wasn’t quite right and we had to talk Charlie round and restart his Dorchester career.

“It’s really pleasing to see how well he’s done this year. It can be done and he deserves an awful lot of plaudits for that.

“Personally, I still feel there’s work to be done with Charlie and he can still kick on further.

“He knows what the supporters and club feel and mean to him. They’re very warm towards Charlie.”

Dorchester Town travel to Met Police today (3pm) for their final match of the season.