DORCHESTER Town have sounded out striker Matt Groves over a possible return.

The former Magpie left the Jewson Stadium in September 2007 after nine years and 393 appearances in black and white, joining Lewes on a free transfer.

Groves earned promotion with Lewes that season but remained in the Blue Square South with Eastleigh, where he suffered play-off heartache earlier this month.

And it appears Groves is one of several strikers the Magpies are interested in.

Assistant-boss Ashley Vickers said: “There are so many players that we’re talking to but he is one of them. However, we’re in the middle of renegotiations with some of our current players and what money we have left will depend on that.

“We need competition for places up front and Matt is a proven goal-scorer. But he’s one of many strikers that we’re looking at.”

Another former Magpie, Jamie Mudge, is on the county town shopping list while ex-Terra Scott Partridge and Manny Williams are also believed to be attracting the interest of manager Roy O’Brien.

One player not on the striking shortlist however is Jacob Erskine, who spent six weeks on loan at Dorchester towards the end of last season. Vickers added: “We’re really grateful for Jacob’s efforts last season but he and Phil Walsh are very similar players.”