DORCHESTER Town manager Tom Killick believes it will be “more difficult” for trialists to earn a place in his squad this summer, ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Killick’s comment comes after the former Poole boss has recruited 18 players, including a flurry of signings last week as Ieuan Turner, Lewis Toms, Sean Wright, Matt Buse, Wayne Robinson, Kyran Samadi and Wes Fogden committed.

Dorchester fielded a number of trialists during the 4-0 victory at Hamworthy United on Friday as the Magpies named separate 11s in each half.

Among them were a trialist goalkeeper and two strikers while Killick also casted his eye over a handful of others hopeful of cementing a place at Dorchester next season.

READ MORE: Tom Killick 'very pleased' with Dorchester Town squad

The goalkeeping position remains a source of speculation at the Avenue Stadium, with the future of Adam Forster unclear following surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

Forster publicly stated his desire to play in the 2024/25 season for the Magpies but the number one jersey remains up for grabs.

And Killick believes other places in the squad will be difficult to come by for the Magpies’ trialists.

He told Echosport: “All good, they all did OK.

“The only issue at the moment is, certainly compared to last year, we are quite good on numbers.

“It’s almost more difficult for the trialists to get to a position where we might be able to do something, but certainly they all showed up well.”

Dorchester are next in action on Saturday at home to Rayners Lane (3pm) in their second pre-season friendly of the summer.

Prior to that, the Magpies’ fixtures for the upcoming Southern League Premier South season will be released on Friday.