TOM Mitchell is still focusing on his playing career despite being handed control of Dorchester Town along with his brother Josh.

The change of ownership follows their father and former chairman Eddie’s departure to AFC Bournemouth where he became chairman after a takeover deal involving the Murry Group.

Tom said: “It is an exciting development but although the club will now be in mine and my brother’s name my main interest is still playing football.

“I have enjoyed my time here over the past year and a half and I do not want it to be any different so I am just focusing on the season ahead and continuing to push myself in terms of trying to cement a first-team place. As for the other side of it, it will be Josh who will be more involved in the boardroom than me. I won’t do much on that side at all.”

There has been a lot of uncertainty at the club since Eddie Mitchell’s exit and recently-appointed chairman Dave Roberts is hoping this conclusion will finally enable the Magpies to fully focus on the forthcoming campaign.

He said: “Transferring the ownership of the club over to his two sons was always what Eddie was going to do and it is not going to have an effect on the day-to-day running of the club at all.

“Both Tom and Josh are two good lads whose hearts are in Dorchester and I am confident the three of us will do a good job for the club.”

Eddie Mitchell echoes Roberts’ thoughts and believes his two sons possess the enthusiasm to make the situation work.

He said: “I gave this decision a lot of careful thought and it is something both Tom and Josh want to do. They want to try and take the club on further and they will have plenty of support around them to help them do that.”

As for Tom’s playing prospects, Eddie Mitchell added: “I would like to think we have demonstrated how professional we are already.

“Tom had to sit on the bench for a year and a half before he became an established player and he knows that if he is not up to it he won’t be playing.

“As for Josh, he has worked on the car park at the club for the best part of nine months and has also done quite a bit of stewarding so he has got to know the people there and is looking forward to the challenge.

“But like I said, the main thing for me is that both Tom and Josh want to do this, it is not just a case of me wanting them to do it.”

Meanwhile, Magpies’ boss Roy O’Brien is keen to strengthen his squad and will run his eyes over several trialists in the coming weeks.

He said: “I would like to add a couple more players and there are a lot of lads coming down for us to have a look at. You tend to learn more about people in game situations but it is also important that you don’t bring someone in just for the sake of it.

“We have to make sure that we get the right players in with the right attitude and that is what we will be focusing on over the next couple of weeks.”

O’Brien wants to add depth in all departments but is particularly keen on securing a striker and a goalkeeper.