DORCHESTER Town boss Steve Thompson believes there is a problem with ill-discipline in the Magpies’ squad and feels his squad is suffering from a distinct “lack of leaders”.

In just 21 games this season Dorchester have been shown six red cards, the latest brandished to centre-back Callum Rose in the Magpies’ 5-0 drubbing against Chesham United last Saturday.

Three players have seen red twice – goalkeeper Alhaji Sesay, winger Tom Blair and Rose – while midfielder Luke Winsper has also served a one-game ban for picking up five bookings.

Asked by Echosport if he felt a lack of discipline was present amongst his squad, he said: “Yes, I do. Four of the six have been needless, I’ve looked at it.

“Players have to learn quickly. There’s a lack of leaders on the pitch, that doesn’t help. I could see what was going to happen (on) Saturday.

“I’m not allowed to go on the pitch and take the lad away – I was hoping that might be done, but there’s a lack of leaders.

“Having said that, the players – even though they’re young – they have to take responsibility for their sending-offs.”

He added: “The only two out of six that you really say were completely down to the player was AJ’s at Tiverton where he’s come out to try and win the ball and the

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player’s gone round him - that’s not a dissent issue or a problem with attitude issue.

“And probably Callum’s at Salisbury which is for a tackle that got a second yellow card.

“The other four sending-offs have all been easily preventable, so I’m very annoyed. It also shows the youth and naivety of our team.

“I don’t blame them at all, but you could see that the Chesham players were making the most of it and trying to rile him up further. Unfortunately, he took the bait.”

In a bid to combat the spate of card-showing, Thompson hinted he has resorted to fining players.

He said: “I’m not a manager that likes taking money off players, it’s not like players earn great money at this level of football, but at the end of the day, it’s happened too many times.

“We should be on two sending-offs now in my opinion, not six. People have to learn the hard way and get fined and suspended.

“They get suspended by the League or the FA and they get fined by us - what else can you do?

“You can speak to them, and I have spoken to the players about this.

“You could see the experience in (Chesham’s) team, working the situation, and unfortunately Callum was not sharp or intelligent enough to realise what was happening and fell for the bait.”

Dorchester face Hungerford Town in a crucial FA Trophy third qualifying round match at the Clayson Stadium today (3pm).