Dorchester Town assistant boss Stuart Heath says the club are desperate to retain the services of Nick Crittenden and Jake Smeeton.
The Magpies duo have attracted interest from a number of clubs ahead of the new season, but Heath is hoping they turn down any other offers and stay on at the Avenue Stadium.
“We are working hard on those two and we are hopeful they will stay,” he told Echosport.
“It is not easy because we are really close to our limit now in terms of the budget, but they are both crucial players for us and I know Phil (Simkin) feels the same.
“We know there is interest from elsewhere but we also believe they want to stay, so hopefully we can get into a position where we can get a suitable deal for them both.”
The Magpies squad for the upcoming season will be smaller than before, however, Heath moved to reassure fans that it will be packed with quality.
“We cannot guarantee results but what we can guarantee is that the team will be fit, committed and organised, and ready to do the town proud,” he added.
“The club is going in a different direction now and the squad is going to be smaller, but we have still managed to retain a lot of good players and there is a good mixture of experience and youth.
“The fact we still have the likes of Mark Jermyn and Jamie Gleeson is hugely significant, and with exciting prospects like Lewis Morgan and Calvin Brooks coming through, there is a lot to feel encouraged about.
“Having said that, we are going to need some luck with injuries and the loan system is going to be important too.”
Posted: Wednesday, June 19, 2013