DORCHESTER Town manager Ashley Vickers insists he will never throw in the towel.

The 40-year-old faces an uncertain future after seeing his side dumped out of the FA Cup at the weekend – their fourth defeat on the spin.

But the defiant boss is adamant he will not resign from his post, seeing enough in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Weston-super-Mare to convince him that the tide will soon turn for his county town troops.

In a passionate post-match interview, Vickers said: “I’m on my knees but I’m fighting – that’s me and it’s the only way I know. But I will come out on top.

“I never walk away from anything. I’m not going to go into my shell and disappear.

“Nothing aggrieves me more than losing football matches – it’s in my blood.

“I have been fortunate to play for some good clubs and win far more games than I’ve lost yet people question my tactical knowledge.

“Andy Harris and I have played 600 or so games apiece at a good level and Phil Simkin has thousands of games behind him so we know the game.

“I know the supporters deserve success because they have stood by us through thick and thin but no one wants that success more than me.

“We’ve lost out on £4,500 but we didn’t have that money before. It kills me, Andy, Phil and all the boys that we’re not in the cup but I know their belief and endeavour will change things.

“If the lads keep the faith things will turn for them because that’s football.

“When I took the job here the negativity that seems to permeate this area was all consuming but myself, Phil and Shaun Hearn changed that and things became more positive.

“But people have short memories and they heap what they deem is pressure on me, but I don’t mind taking it. But I won’t allow it to be placed on my players because they work hard.

“If they weren’t working hard then I would walk away. But they do and they give the club everything.”

The outcome of Saturday’s second qualifying round tie could have been so different had the Magpies made the most of their opportunities.

Vickers added: “We create chances over and over again but we don’t take them.

“However, the lads have never let me down, not once, since I took over the job. They wear the shirt with pride.

“I read everything that’s said about me and I will take all the flak, that’s not a problem, but I don’t want people digging out my players and saying they don’t try.

“Those players give good value for money. Yes we switched off for their goal and we created six or seven good chances but didn’t take them – that’s the nature of the game sometimes.

“Their goal was their first shot on target and they scored from it.”

Vickers also revealed that the Magpies were unsuccessful with an attempt to bring in an unnamed player on loan.