BRIDPORT ace Ryan Dovell is relishing the prospect of stepping into a new role at St Mary’s Field next season.

The experienced striker will be part of manager Trevor Senior’s staff as a player-coach, and after helping with warm-ups and some of the Bees’ training already this season, he admits he can’t wait to get started.

“I am looking forward to having a go at being a coach and my official role will be as a player-coach next season,” Dovell said.

“With one of the coaching staff leaving, Trevor offered me the role and I was more than happy to take it.

"Even if I am not playing I just want to get involved and I want to help out as best as I can.

“After helping out a few times with warm-ups and training sessions Trevor knew I was interested, and I was delighted to be asked.

“I have spoken to him about it in the past and he was aware I wanted to pursue that route.

“I have known Trevor for a long time and it will be nice to be working for him in a different role. For him to give me that role in the coaching staff is amazing.”

As well as preparing for his new position, former Dorchester Town man Dovell is also targeting a return to playing action in pre-season.

He suffered medial ligament damage to his knee in Bridport's FA Vase exit at Highworth Town in November, an injury which ruled him out for the season.

Giving the latest on the injury, he said: “It’s not too bad, I am still receiving a bit of treatment for it but within a few weeks I’ll hopefully be able to start light running.

“Then I can start to build it up and hopefully get a decent level of fitness for pre-season by the time it gets up and running.”

On the Bees’ campaign itself, Dovell added: “It’s been frustrating for everybody, not just for me on the sidelines. I know the players are all disappointed with where they have ended up.

“Just before Christmas we were probably only four or five points off the top and then to watch us gradually fall down the league was really frustrating.”