DIRECTOR Paul Miller believes Wimborne Town can be “a force to be reckoned with” in the Southern League next season – and also one of the most attractive teams to watch.

Miller and the Magpies board have taken steps to improve the playing surface at Cuthbury by investing around £15,000 in the pitch.

Wimborne experienced fluctuating fortunes in manager Steve Cuss’s first season at the helm, finishing third from bottom in Division One South & West.

The Magpies endured a testing first half to the campaign before any lingering relegation fears were extinguished thanks to an improved run of results and performances after Christmas.

Miller told the Daily Echo: “Under Steve Cuss, we have become known as a team that tries to play football on the floor. We have invested in the pitch to ensure we have got a good playing surface to suit the type of football we want to play and to attract the type of player we want to attract.

“We have used machinery for a process of ground breaking. It is deep rooted and loosens the soil to give the pitch a bit of bounce. We have deep drilled seed into it and also double seeded it. The machine pushes the seed into the ground and it takes about six weeks to come back. It makes it thick and lush.

“We have also top dressed the whole of the pitch with about 200 tonnes of top dressing and have seeded that as well.

“Although we haven’t got rid of the slope, it will make the playing surface a lot smoother and will enable us to play football the way Steve wants us to.

“Towards the end of last season, we were fourth in the form table and proved we could be a force to be reckoned with next season and be competing for places at the top end of the division.”