PORTLAND United have begun the search for a seventh assistant-manager of the season after Rich Robson stepped down due to health reasons.

Blues’ boss Simon Browne has already seen Mark Carter and Carl Mutch come and go, while Mark Robinson, Ian Hutchinson and Micky Greeno have all filled in on a temporary basis.

Speaking to Echosport, Robson revealed he will continue to manage Dorchester Town Reserves.

He said: “I’m not going to leave. The difference between the two is Portland is very much two training sessions (a week) and two games. It’s more travelling as well.

“The reserves is one training session and one game, so it’s less of a commitment. It’s a lot, lot harder to think about leaving them.

“It’s been a pet project over the last couple of years and I’ve got some great support there.”

Robson admitted he also made the decision to step down to avoid “wasting” Browne’s time.

He said: “I felt that if I couldn’t give Browner my everything I didn’t see the point in wasting his time.

“The reason I’m able to carry on at Dorchester is that I’ve got some great supporting characters, Ryan Dovell (reserves’ assistant) makes it very easy for me.

“You’re only as strong as your support and I didn’t want to hinder Browner in any way by being ill a lot of the time.”

Commenting on Robson’s situation, Browne was sympathetic with the Magpies’ reserves’ boss.

He said: “It was a decision that we both took together. His health is the most important thing.

“There are priorities in life and he’s got to factor in his job as a lecturer. Something has to give.

“You put your life in order of priorities and things like football, unless it happens to be your main employment, tend to fall by the wayside.

“It’s quite disappointing as I was quite looking forward to him going into the job. The door is certainly not closed in terms of working with him in the future.”

Commenting on the “revolving door” at Grove Corner, Browne hopes his next appointment will be a “lucky number seven”.

He said: “It was unfortunate with Mark Carter just before the season. It’s like a revolving door, so hopefully it will be lucky number seven.”