PETER Kennedy is set to step down as North Dorset head coach due to his increasing work commitments with O’Neills Sportswear.

Kennedy, who spends a large amount of his time working in Ireland, said: “My job at O’Neills has expanded to take in the whole of Rugby Union development, in addition to a general expansion of the whole structure in the UK.

“O’Neills will be supplying a Premiership club with kit and all associated sportswear and shop items for 2011-12 onwards and you are looking at a completely different set-up, compared with dealing with more junior clubs.

“I informed North Dorset at the turn of the year I could not commit to what I would expect of a head coach – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

“I’ve had three very successful seasons with North Dorset, winning the Dorset & Wilts Vase twice and reaching the final again this season.

“We also achieved the club’s highest league position in Southern Counties South, third, which we may emulate again this term.”

Kennedy’s charges visit Devizes in the league tomorrow.

North: Westcar, Drake, Legg, Allhussen, Trevis, Micklewright, Boegnigk, Smith, Clayton, Stickland, W Willoughby, Tuffin, Trevis, Jobling, Fox. Subs: TBC.

• Bournemouth will be looking to put promotion hopefuls Old Patesians out of their minds with victory over Weston-super-Mare at Chapel Gate tomorrow.

Lions are all but guaranteed a play-off spot in National Three South West ahead of their home clash against third-placed Old Pates next weekend, but could have the luxury of labelling that meeting a ‘nothing game’ if they can see off Weston.

Coach David Dunn told the Echo: “It won’t mathematically secure our play-off place, but a win tomorrow would go a very long way to seeing us there.

“Old Pates have to play Hartpury College in a few weeks and I can’t see them winning that or the game against us, so I think we are pretty much there.

“It’s likely I will be watching the top two in National Three London & South East, Barnes and Hertford, play each other next weekend to get an idea of what we could face in any play-off match.”

Number eight Chris Hughes returns for Lions tomorrow after overcoming a nasty finger injury.

Lions: (from) Lions: K Lynch, Yarwood, Bruce, Chislett, Connolly, Stewart, Pollard, Hardcastle, Wareham, R Lynch, Wilford, Manning, Seward, Forrest, Ford, Hughes, Dunkerley, Hennings.

• Relegated Wimborne could hammer another nail into Oakmeadians’ coffin in South West One East tomorrow.

Oaks make the short trip to Leigh Park knowing defeat would further dent their bid to avoid joining their Dorset rivals in Southern Counties South next season.

Elsewhere in South West One East, Swanage & Wareham travel to High Wycombe.