DORCHESTER Town defender Josh Bailey has hailed the managerial mindset of boss Steve Thompson.

Bailey, who is with the Magpies on work experience terms from Bristol Rovers, praised the man-management of Thompson and added the former Yeovil manager prefers a style of football suited to his skills.

He told Echosport: “He’s a really great guy, a great manager. He knows his stuff. He knows the kind of team he has, knows we’re not a long ball team and likes to play out.

“I love that because that’s what I’ve grown up doing through academies. It just gets me on the ball and gets me playing.

“He’s really good tactically, knows his players. He just nurtures them, has chats with them on strategies and tactics, so it’s really, really good.”

Bailey also highlighted the positive vibes in the Dorchester camp and revealed more about his recent struggles with injury.

He said: “It’s a great atmosphere in the club and in the changing room.

“The lads are great, Steve welcomes you in and the football we play here is exactly what we play at Rovers. It’s just so welcoming and homely.”

“(Medics) were really worried it was osteopubis, they were really cautious with it. However, they found out it was just a tear in my lower abdomen so it was all absolutely fine.

“They just gave me two weeks’ rest and now I’m flying, loving it,” he added.

Bailey has been used at both centre-back and right-back in consecutive games but the Pirates’ loanee admitted he feels comfortable in either position.

He said: “It’s not too bad. I do a little bit of that at Rovers. I’ve played where they needed me to. I prefer centre-back but I’ll do a job anywhere they need me to.

“It’s great. I don’t normally get to go forward. It’s like ‘what am I doing up here?’ so it’s really great and (I’ll do) anything I can do to help the team.

“I’m just here to play as much football as I can, just improve my game. That’s the sort of level I’m at, at the moment.

“I just want to do everything I can, whether it’s right-back or centre-back, get the ball at my feet and play football. I’m just loving it here.”