WIMBORNE chiefs are planning to offer boss Alex Browne a contract despite the fact his struggling Zamaretto One outfit have only won once in nine matches.

Cuthbury chairman Ken Stewart told the Echo: “We’re working on offering Alex a contract,” ahead of their crunch home clash against high-riding Mangotsfield in the league tonight (7.45pm).

It could be that Stewart and the rest of Magpies’ directors feel it’s better to have Brown on contract in case Southern League Premier Weymouth come calling for his services.

Ian Hutchinson’s struggling side, hit with a 10-point deduction, are eight points adrift at the bottom of the table.

And Browne, a former Terras defender who is still a firm favourite on their terraces, might be seen as an ideal replacement if the Wessex Stadium hotseat was to become available.

Asked about speculation linking Browne with a contract, Stewart said: “We’re in the process of offering him one.

“He’s the right man for the job and he will stay.

“Alex is not on a contract as a player or manager at Wimborne, but we feel it’s time (to put him on one) as security for both parties.

“We wouldn’t be offering him a contract if we didn’t feel he was the right man.

“We’ve stepped up a league and it has been difficult, but apart from Totton we haven’t seen any opposition to worry us.

“We’re just not getting the rub of the green at the moment. For example, we had five injuries before Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Almondsbury on Saturday.

“We’ll be all right before the end of the season, I’m absolutely sure of it.”

Stewart wasn’t alarmed by Browne’s comment in yesterday’s Echo claiming “it was only a matter of time” before any manager was sacked by their club, “unless you are Alex Ferguson.”

The chairman added: “Alex was asked a question and gave an honest answer. But Saturday’s performance was like being near the end of the tunnel. We really deserved to win.

“There’s no crisis at Wimborne. Alex (Browne) is here, we’re here and we’ll all stick together to get through this poor run.”

Wimborne striker Jamie Davidson is out for at least two months after X-rays confirmed he had a broken fibula.

Wimborne: (from) Walker-Harris, Wilson, Lockyer, Roast, Lloyd, Whitcher, Green, Stokoe, Barnes, Hunt, Groves, James, Haysom, L Powell, Browne, Yelland.

<•>Bashley boss Steve Riley hopes to bring in Dave Town as cover for injury doubt Joe Collins (calf) for their Zamaretto Premier clash at Oxford City.

Bashley: (from) Elm, R Hill, Ferrett, Oliver, Middleton, Whitley, Knowles, Hill, Dave Allen, Spinney, Smith, Collins, Dominic Allen, Digby, Brookes, Riley, Town.

<•>Bournemouth Poppies host Verwood Town in the Wessex Cup third round.

Poppies: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Cole, Rowley, Crutcher, Phillipson-Masters, Culliford, Blake, Kemble, Jeffes, Eriksen, G Webb, Saadi, Pickett, Wilson, Byrne, Cream, Vaughan.

Verwood: (from) Fawcett, Dear, Murray, Delaney, Morrison, Elysee, Lanahan, J Webb, Haskell, King, Saxby, Dyer, Matt Newbery, Lovell, Kelly, Williams.