DORCHESTER Town manager Leigh Robinson believes centre-back Jamie Laird is eager to “prove a point” after signing for the Magpies last week.

Laird, a former Weymouth and Weston-super-Mare defender, was an unused substitute for Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Truro as Robinson opted to gradually integrate the ex-Bridgwater ace into the Magpies’ ranks.

Defeat left Dorchester bolted to the bottom of the BetVictor Southern Premier South table, two points behind nearest rivals Beaconsfield having played two games more.

Worse still, the Magpies were cut further adrift of safety after fellow strugglers Yate Town and Hendon impressively beat Taunton and Met Police 4-1 and 3-0 respectively.

Speaking post-match, Robinson, whose side are now nine points off absolute safety, felt Laird’s arrival would add more “defensive stability” to his squad.

He said: “He’s a lad I’ve worked with before and I was racking my brains thinking ‘we badly need some more mid-20s, 30-year-old, experienced Southern League players who’ve been there and done it.

“Jamie’s one of those and also we need lads who want to prove a point. Jamie wants to prove that he is still good enough at this level and I’ve got no doubt he is.

“He’ll give us a bit more defensive stability. We’re not blessed with defenders in terms of numbers, but he’s a very intelligent player – he understands the game.

“I thought he’d be perfect to bring in. He wasn’t fully-fit (for Truro) but I knew that and wanted to get him in, have a look at him and be around the group.

“Then he’ll train (tonight) and hopefully we’ll get him in on Saturday.”

Robinson also signed striker Harry Warwick, midfielder Harry Gardner and Magpies’ hero Nathan Walker ahead of the Truro loss.

Commenting on the trio, he added: “Nathan was a brilliant influence on the group before the game, in the warm-up and in the changing room.

“He was very good – which we knew – and he didn’t put a foot wrong on the pitch either, so we’re very happy with how he did.

“Harry Warwick struggled a bit in the first half but when you’re a young lad coming into a new team against top of the league, who are really at it, it took 45 minutes for him to find his feet.

“Everyone could see he was much better in the second half

“Harry Gardner was off the bench, a roll of the dice, so we didn’t see as much of him as we would’ve liked, but I’m sure we will in the coming weeks.”