OUTGOING manager Graham Kemp insists it will be business as usual as he continues to steady the ship at Christchurch.

Kemp will remain at the helm until the end of the season after the Wessex League high-fliers delayed plans to appoint his successor.

Christchurch had been aiming to name a new boss this week after Kemp resigned his post in December following five-and-a-half years in charge.

But after Priory chairman Mark Duffy confirmed the club had been “unsuccessful” in their attempts to find a suitable replacement, Kemp revealed he would carry on until the summer and attempt to keep Christchurch on track for Premier Division glory.

Duffy told the Daily Echo: “We are not going to do anything now until the end of season when, hopefully, circumstances may have changed for some of the applicants or we will get some new ones.

“Graham has done us a great service in honouring his commitment that he would not leave us without a manager in place. We are grateful he has agreed to stay and we can now focus on trying to finish as high as we can.”

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s trip to face Bournemouth Poppies at Victoria Park (3pm), Kemp said: “I think the club and me felt the standard of applicants would be better at the end of the season. I am quite happy to stay until the end of the season.”

New signing Jack Daniels, a 22-year-old midfielder, could feature for Poppies, while Christchurch’s Dan Taylor is ruled out through injury.

Poppies: (from) Vaughan, Ayrton, Batchelor, Phillipson-Masters, Saadi, Ward, Corby, Haines, Watt, Joyce, Warren, Phillips, Lockyer, Clarke, Caslake, Lepage, Turner, Daniels, Jones.

Priory: (from) Collins, Thompson, Legg, Crutchley, Lloyd, Yelland, Burden, Smith, Puckett, Osborne, Griffin, Cornick, Cook, Magookin, Kittle, Dand, Frampton.

  •  Verwood Town boss Adie Arnold has named recent recruits Gerald Owuse-Moore, Jake Long and Ryan Long in his squad to host Wessex Premier strugglers New Milton Town. The Long brothers previously played for Romsey where striker Ryan netted 17 times in 30 appearances last season.

Potters: (from) Lynch, Saxby, Dyer, Gajic, Evans, J Smith, Kelly, J Long, R Long, Murray, O’Connell, Dear, Gilham, Owuse-Moore, Kimber.

Linnets: (from) Hookway, Blackburn, Donaldson, Barge, De’ath, Morris, Head, Fox, Proctor, Egerton, Holloway, Cox, Thomson, Roberts, Curtis, Booker.

  •  Hamworthy United manager Simon Browne is hoping to have Steve Walker and Antony Carlile available for Hammers’ home clash with Moneyfields. The duo, both dual registered with Dorchester, were last night due to meet Magpies boss Phil Simkin to discuss their futures.

Hammers: (from) Knights, Ayling, Horlock, Walker, Hester, Carlile, Pekun, Penny, Perry, Wyatt, Murray, Shovelton, Bradley, Lanahan, Chudy, Staines.

  •  In Wessex One, Ringwood Town visit United Services Portsmouth.