MARK Jermyn admits it will feel “quite strange” when he faces Dorchester Town for the first time since leaving the club last summer.

The 33-year-old made more appearances in a Magpies’ shirt than any other player during a 14-year stay at the Avenue before moving to Poole.

Jermyn’s current side hosts his former employers at Tatnam today (3pm), with the Dolphins’ Neil Martin and Steve Devlin also set to go up against their former club.

And while his loyalties rest wholly with the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division leaders, Jermyn says his affinity to Dorchester means he would “never rule out” a return.

“There are going to be a mixture of feelings for me today,” said the defender. “Playing against my old club is going to be quite strange.

“I hold Dorchester close to my heart because I grew up there, I think I was 19 when I joined and 33 when I left.

“I made great friends and still keep in contact with the players, staff and supporters, and I always look out for their results. I’m a Poole Town player at the moment and my loyalties are with them, but I would never rule out returning to Dorchester at all.

“Everybody knows I love Dorchester and I never saw myself leaving, but at the same time I’m grateful for the opportunity Poole have given me.

“I’ve been lucky to join a club that is top of the league.

“Our ambition is to win the league and whether we are playing Dorchester or Weymouth, I want to go out and win for Poole Town.”

Commenting further about the Magpies, he added: “Whenever I go past the ground it’s like going past your old house, it’s a strange feeling.”

Jermyn was disappointed at the way he ended up leaving the Avenue after playing with distinction for the club for such a long time.

On his departure, he said: “Everybody was aware that it was never my wish to leave the club when I did. Tom Killick gave me the opportunity to sign for Poole and I’m really grateful for that.

"One of the things that wasn’t great when I left Dorchester was I didn’t get a chance to say thank you to a lot of people when I left.

“The last game of the season at Ebbsfleet was quite emotional for me because I thought then I might not be at the club this season.

"It was a sad way to end my career at Dorchester because I didn’t say goodbye to everyone. I’d been there X amount of years and there was no reason for me to go the way I did.”

The former Dorchester skipper also believes that Magpies’ boss Graham Kemp is not a “million miles away from turning things around” given the player he has at his disposal.