PORTLAND United have experienced their first loss of the summer after midfielder Brin Doyle joined Hamworthy United.

Former Dorchester Town youngster Doyle spent two spells with the Blues either side of featuring at the Avenue Stadium during the Glenn Howes era.

Doyle scored five times in 41 appearances for Portland during the 2023/24 season, compared to nine goals in 30 games in the 2022/23 campaign.

Doyle was one of the few Portland players not to have agreed a deal for next season and Hamworthy have now come in for his services.

READ MORE: Brin Doyle joins Portland United on loan from Dorchester Town

It comes after the Hammers were reinstated at Step 6 level, Wessex League Division One, following their withdrawal from Step 4’s Southern League Division One last term.

In a club statement, Portland said: “Following discussions with Brinley we have decided it is in his best interests to seek a new opportunity that will further support his development.

“Brin is a remarkable young man with a brilliant attitude and we wish him all the best at Hamworthy United!”

Portland boss Kyle Critchell told Echosport: “Brin is a fantastic young man, first and foremost.

“At the latter part of the season he obviously didn’t get as many minutes that he felt he should have.

“Maybe that has potentially not enabled him to carry on that growth from the season before.

“The transition for Brin going from right midfield into a central midfield position was actually quite difficult for him.

“He’s someone who had a preference for where he felt himself going further in his career. We wanted to help him adapt into that position.

“But, towards the end of the season, we felt the three that were playing, their performances warranted those starts.

“For him, it’s about looking at styles and what fits his needs. I’ve had a great conversation with him and he’s a humble young man.”

Doyle’s arrival at the County Ground comes after the Hammers agreed terms with Connor Ford and Lee Francis late this week.