DORCHESTER Town chairman Scott Symes believes the Magpies’ much-vaunted positive environment can help squeeze another “10 or 20 per cent” from the current squad.

Symes and boss Callum Brooks have worked to foster a “no blame” culture at the Clayson Stadium, although the latter admitted he is not averse to delivering “home truths” – a fact he highlighted after the 4-1 defeat to Salisbury.

Symes, who inherited the role from Matt Lucas this summer, is consequently undeterred by the Magpies’ tricky opening to the BetVictor Southern Premier South season, which featured losses to Truro and Salisbury after a 1-0 win over Beaconsfield.

He said: “I talk to Callum a lot and it’s something we want to create on and off the pitch with playing staff and all staff within the club.

“We want to look at things in a really positive way, not in an unrealistic positive way. At the end of the day, we’re Dorchester Town Football Club.

“We can have a certain amount of finances that we can get into players which we need to and want to improve year on year.

“Really, what we’re looking for culturally is to get an extra 10 or 20 per cent out of those players on the pitch by Callum’s coaching, by making the environment right and making it a no blame culture.

“Which means we get that extra 20 per cent through all of those things that allow us to perform at a really good level within the league we’re in currently. We’ve had a tough start in the sense of where we’ve had to play – going to Truro and Salisbury.

“I tend to leave the talking about the football side of things to Callum, but all I can say is we’re really pleased with how the season’s started and the all-round performance of what we’ve put together.

“I think there are some very, very good signs within those performances that mean we’re going to have an exciting season.”