WIMBORNE Town director David Emes is keen to avoid an "old man's club" mentality as Magpies continue their search for a new chairperson.

Paula Henley quit the role for a second time earlier this month, citing personal reasons, with the club taking the unusual step of advertising the vacant position.

It is a key time for Wimborne with boss Matty Holmes keen to learn his future given his contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Appointed in May last year, Holmes has guided Magpies to 11th in Southern South & West, one spot above their highest finish in the ladder.

And in a crucial period, Emes is keen to see a new chairperson who possesses the "nous" and "energy" required.

He told the Daily Echo: "Ideally, we don't want any of the old school. I don't want to be ageist but it needs to be someone with nous and a real interest in football.

"I think it happens at a number of places where you get egos using football clubs as a sort of hobby – and it becomes like an old man's club.

"It just doesn't work. Whatever level you are at, football is a business not a hobby. It's about people's livelihoods.

"We have some fantastic volunteers. We employ a full-time manager and some of our players rely on the money as part of their income.

"It's a business so you can't hope it runs by itself because it just doesn't. It takes a huge amount of energy and work.

"We need someone who may have a bit of financial clout behind them but that's not suggesting for one moment that we're asking them to put loads of money into the club because it's a false economy."

Wimborne entertain basement-dwellers Bridgwater at Cuthbury tomorrow (3pm) and Billy Maybury is suspended having picked up his 10th yellow card of the season against Hereford last weekend.

James Stokoe is expected to recover from a chest infection and it is hoped Connor Cocklin and Josh Hartley will both be available for selection.

Magpies earned an impressive point at Hereford before losing narrowly to play-off chasers Taunton on Tuesday.

Holmes said: "You can't just expect to carry on playing well just because you have played well in a previous game – it doesn't matter who you are up against.

"Bridgwater gave us a really tough time at their place (the teams drew 2-2) and we will be demanding the boys put in a really good performance.

"All I will do is ask them to work hard and normally you get something out of it if you do that."

Anyone interested in applying for the role of chairperson should email their CV to leemerrifield@aol.com.