BOSS Matty Holmes revealed he had agreed fresh terms with 85 per cent of his Wimborne Town squad and insisted: “They deserve another crack at having a good season.”

Magpies have retained the services of Toby Holmes, Luke Burbidge, Luke Holmes, Gerard Benfield and Jack Lovell among others for 2018-19.

Matt Oldring and Sam Bayston are the only two playing departures from Cuthbury. They were part of the squad which recorded a club record third-place finish in Southern League West this season.

Holmes told the Daily Echo: “Around 85 per cent of the squad have agreed so we are nearly there. There are just three or four players I need to tidy things up with this week, which I will.

“Why bring in four or five others when they deserve another crack at having a good season? These players individually and as a team have progressed and got better, so I am willing to go again and work with them.

“You have to work within your means. I am sure there will be a lot of clubs with a bigger budget than us next season but it was the same last season.”

Bayston has reunited with boss Callum Brooks as part of the new set up at Wessex Premier Hamworthy United.

Central defender Oldring is set to head north in a change of career path.

Holmes said: “Sam and I had a couple of conversations over the past few days. Callum Brooks has the Hamworthy United job and Sam used to play under him.

“I am very disappointed he has gone. He suffered a really bad injury in the FA Cup during in my first season here and he missed the majority of that season with a broken bone in his foot.

“Then he got a recurrence this season which kept him out. It was not really that I hadn’t played him, it was purely injuries that curtailed his appearances for us.

“He is a great lad and goes on good terms but we are disappointed to lose him – there was a good chance he could have figured.

“I think he saw the front four we had and felt he wouldn’t push into it if they were all fit. He wants to play regularly, which I understand. Hamworthy have got a very good player for next season.

“Matty is changing career paths and is going to train to be a teacher. He is moving up to Leeds University to do a course,” added the Cuthbury boss.

“Jobs are more important than football at this level, players have to earn their main living. It’s a tough one to take but we wish him all the best. He has been brilliant for us.

“He is pure defending. He wins balls in the air, steps in to intercept and his leadership gets the other lads going. You need characters like Matty at this level.”