WIMBORNE Town boss Matty Holmes hailed the “wonderful opportunity” of potential promotion to step three – a level the club has never reached in its 140-year history.

Magpies thought their hopes of going up had disappeared after they lost the Southern League West play-off final to Swindon Supermarine in May.

But Barnsley-based Shaw Lane’s withdrawal from the Northern League Premier Division had a knock-on effect around the country, with Wimborne offered promotion to the newly-formed Southern League South.

And although it is understood club officials accepted it, the decision is subject to ratification by the Football Association, as are possible switches for Banbury United, Hednesford Town, Fleet Town and FC Romania.

Banbury and Hednesford have signalled their intentions to appeal.

Reflecting on the unexpected development, Holmes told the Daily Echo: “I don’t want to see any club fold but a door has opened and this would be a wonderful opportunity for our football club.

“The club has not been at that level in its history and it would be great to the lead the team there.

“That’s what we strived to do, especially as our momentum increased last season. We were desperate to get up and it was heart-breaking to lose in the play-off final.

“Promotion is something everyone is excited by but we realise it depends on other clubs being moved around.

“We will be watching the news this week and fingers crossed it will work out for us.

“We can’t count our chickens. We will just have to wait and see.”

Should Wimborne's promotion be rubber-stamped, they would join Dorset rivals Poole Town, Dorchester Town and Weymouth in Southern League South – the first time in history all four clubs have been in the same division.

“You want derbies,” said Holmes. “We had Totton and Winchester last year. They are good derbies but not proper ones.

“The Poole games in the cup in the past couple of years have been fantastic for our lads – they loved it – so it would be great to meet in the league.”

Former Cherries star Holmes, 48, was appointed Wimborne manager in May 2016 and led the club to 11th in Southern League West in his first season in charge.

That was the club’s highest finishing position in the league ladder, a record swiftly broken when Magpies roared to third and the play-off final in the following campaign.

Holmes added: “In our first season we were 11th on a hugely tight budget.

“Last season, we had probably a midtable to bottom budget and ended up third, so the lads did unbelievably well.

“I’m very proud of their efforts. They did their jobs week in, week out and that’s why we ended up where we did.

“It’s exciting times for the club, whether we stay or go up. We’re in good shape, whatever happens.”