OUTGOING boss Graham Kemp has backed Hamworthy United to flourish without him having resigned to take the vacant manager’s position at Dorchester Town.

As predicted by the Daily Echo, Kemp today called time on his 10-month tenure at the County Ground to take his first steps in Southern League management having served his apprenticeship with Christchurch, Winchester City and Hammers.

The 49-year-old admitted he had made the decision with “a heavy heart” but that the Dorchester job had been “too good an opportunity” to turn down before recommending his old post to any up-and-coming candidates.

Kemp told the Daily Echo: “I do feel bad leaving Hamworthy but hopefully they’re in a better position than when I joined which is the benchmark for any manager.

“It’s a great job for somebody. I think they have a good squad there with a well-run, supportive committee and it’s ready-made for someone to push them on a bit.

“The chairman is doing a really good job of getting things right off the pitch and Hamworthy are on the up. They’ll go on to bigger and better things, I’m sure.”

Explaining his decision, Kemp continued: “It’s a jump of two leagues for me and I must admit I am really excited. The anticipation has built over the past three or four days and I can’t wait to get my teeth into it.

“If a club from two levels higher comes in for a player you expect them to be interested and it is no different for me as a manager. I would have been naive not to listen to what they (Dorchester) had to say.

“I have given plenty of young lads a crack in the Wessex League and fully supported them in moving up the levels. Ten or 15 of them are now playing in the Southern League or higher and I feel like it’s my turn to step up.”

Meanwhile, Kemp ruled out swooping for a swathe of his former players, stating it would be “in nobody’s interests” to do so.

He added: “There is some good talent in the Wessex League and at Hamworthy but my first job is to see what Dorchester have and shape our way of playing.

“I certainly wouldn’t be looking to take a load of Hamworthy players and, without disrespect, you wouldn’t take the bulk of any Wessex League side and expect to compete at that level.”

Chairman Mark Bartlett has invited applications for the Hamworthy job and confirmed that first-team coach John Macey would take charge of Saturday's trip to Whitchurch United (3pm).

Bartlett said: "We're disappointed to lose Graham but we wish him all the best.

"We will look to begin the process of finding a replacement over the weekend and hope to line up something over the next week or so."