Dawlish News

Gooding took over the the Sandy Lane Club last autumn and has ambitions of seeing Dawlish playing Southern League football within a few years, identifying DML Premier Division club Tiverton Town as his role model for success.

Gooding has installed a new management set-up at Sandy Lane, with the intention of improving both on and off field activities at the club and he admits some difficult decisions had to be made in order to bring about change.

The appointment of first team manager Chris Myers is already paying dividends.

Although Dawlish remain adrift at the bottom of the Premier Division, their performances have steadily improved.

Myers, who hopes to bring in another new signing in time for Saturday's trip to high-flying Paulton Rovers, has been slowly rebuilding a squad capable of competing in the Western League.

There is enthusiasm in Dawlish now about the football club and a buzz factor that wasn't there before.

Around 50 people attended a forum at the club this week to learn of the new board's plans.

There have been some concerns that Town may pull their reserve team out of the Devon & Exeter League.

Gooding says there are no immediate plans to do that, but hinted that a switch to the South Devon League - and a richer catchment area for the club - could be on the cards in the future.