NEW Christchurch manager Michael Cuffie is targeting the Wessex League title and insists none of his players will follow former boss Graham Kemp to Winchester City.

The 50-year-old will be assisted by former Cherries trainee Dave Morris at Priory with the duo returning to football three years after serving in opposite roles at Lymington Town.

The new Hurn Bridge chief, who also assisted Steve Hollick with Bashley reserves, met with his players this week and set his sights on lifting the crown - before claiming the majority of the squad would be staying on.

Six successful years culminated in Cuffie's predecessor Kemp guiding Christchurch to consecutive third-place finishes in the Wessex Premier, the club's highest-ever position, as well as winning the Wessex League Cup in 2012.

Kemp announced his intention to leave in December but remained in place as Priory searched for his replacement, before agreeing to take the reins at Winchester next season.

And when asked whether he expected any players to follow their former boss up the M3, the new manager strongly refuted any suggestion of City luring Priory's leading lights.

Cuffie told the Daily Echo: “Not at all - not one of them would want to go to him. They've just come back down and not one of the players is prepared to move for Kempy - not one.

“Our aim is to go and win the league. We may lose one or two players that will go and better themselves but, if we can keep the same squad together, I think we're going to do very well. We are very confident.

“Kempy has done well here but our initial meeting with the players was very positive. I have worked with a few of the lads at Bashley and these guys deserve a chance to carry on what they have started. If they do it on the pitch, they will stay and if we need to strengthen, then we will do that along the way.

“It is the right opportunity at the right time for both me and Dave. Having no budget might be a good thing because there are no big time Charlies, no superstars and no cliques to do with money.”

Meanwhile, Christchurch chairman Mark Duffy echoed Cuffie's confidence and revealed his joy at finally filling the vacant hotseat.

Duffy said: “ It will be unrealistic to hold on to everyone and there will be a lot of interest in some of our players but no one in the team is looking to make a sideways move to another Wessex League club and we are hopeful we can hold on to the majority.

“No one has made any intentions to join Winchester known to the club and, following our initial contact with the players, no one has said they will leave Christchurch. We are not looking to make wholesale changes.

“It has taken a while and there have been a few false starts but we are very pleased to get the appointment sorted.”