A CHANGE of structure is something that Beaminster hope will pay dividends for the club this season, with the appointment of team managers as opposed to captains for both the firsts and seconds.

The club will be using Ross Baker and Adrian Phillips to look after the two sides, but the captaincy is going to be sharing throughout the squads during their respective Dorset League seasons.

The club suffered a tricky campaign last term with just three victories coming in 18 contests in the first team, including one scratched game due to a lack of numbers.

Baker said: “We have decided to change things around this season because we struggled at the end of last year to get teams out, so we have appointed two team managers.

“The managers are responsible to get the first and second teams selected during the week and we will appoint a captain on the day of the game.

“Hopefully it should take the pressure off, and with two of us being managers it halves the job that one person used to do.”

The firsts begin their Division Two season on Saturday with a home match against Cattistock.

And the opening day derby encounter at the Memorial Playing Field is a clash that Baker and his side cannot wait to get under way.

He added: “It’s something we are really looking forward to.

“I know they will be up for the game as well so it will be a really good game to get us started.”

The Beaminster second team will be making the trip to Wimborne and Colehill Fourths in Division Six.

In Division Three, Bridport also enjoy home advantage on the first day of the campaign.

Their opponents, Christ-church Seconds, were well and truly put to the sword in the corresponding fixture between the teams last summer.

Bridport thrashed their rivals by 202 runs on the way to a second-placed finish in Division Four.

Meanwhile, Uplyme & Lyme Regis, who finished fifth in D Division of the Devon League last time out, are on their travels this Saturday.

The visit Honiton before hosting Babbacombe next weekend.

The club’s second team take on their Honiton counterparts at home in the second XI league’s D Division East.