WEYMOUTH boss Bobby Wilkinson laughed at social media experts predicting relegation for the Terras next season, adding: “I absolutely love it”.

Numerous self-titled non-league experts have placed Weymouth in the National League South bottom four come the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

That is despite an active summer of 19 signings, many of whom have extensive National League South experience and a handful of those possessing EFL and National League spells on their CV.

Asked for his take on the predictions, Wilkinson told Echosport: “I absolutely love it.

“You never predict anything high up anyway, because you’re easily shot down.

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“The predictions, a couple of people sent them to me, I don’t believe in them. I thrive on things like that.

“How can you predict what my side’s going to be like, or anyone else’s?

“But, this is football, this is the nature of the beast now. Over the years, I’ve had people say: ‘Oh, we didn’t win that friendly’.

“I’m not here to win a friendly, I’m here for the first, second, third (and beyond) days of the season.

“That’s all talk but I do have a little chuckle. Like I’ve said in the past, I’ve been predicted twice to go down at a couple of my old clubs and both times I actually got promoted.

“But, we might go down next year, you never know.”

When put to him that the predictions could give his side extra incentive to succeed next term, Wilkinson responded: “No, I’ll be honest, I don’t try and prove anyone wrong.

“Whatever you do in football, if you do one thing someone will always knock it. If you do another, someone is out there to knock it.

“That’s the negative side of football that I don’t listen to or have in my life any more. That’s my experience.

“All I want to prove to everyone is that we’re working extremely hard. I’ve got nothing to prove to anyone else.”

Weymouth on Thursday travel to Shaftesbury for their opening pre-season friendly (7.45pm).