HAMWORTHY Recreation boss Kirk Grice believes his side has what it takes to compete in the Wessex League after their promotion from the Dorset Premier League.

However, it will not be plain sailing for the Rec manager, as he contends with players departing the club due to being unable to commit to the extra travel brought on by the step up a level.

Rec waltzed to the Dorset Premier League title last term, winning the division by a 13-point margin over nearest challengers Merley Cobham Sport.

Grice recognises that the advantage Rec enjoyed as an established Dorset Prem side now works against them.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Grice began: “The thing is, we've been in the league Dorset Prem for quite a while and were an established team and we could attract players in the local area that didn't want to do the travelling.

“And then it's just a case of where financially we're in a bit of a different situation, but I'd like to think that with the squad what we've got, that we're assembling as well, we can go up and compete.

“People always say avoiding relegation should be the start, but I'm a bit more ambitious, I want to go and push up and try and play with the teams at the top of the league and see where we get to.

“We've seen Portland do it, we’ve seen Shaftesbury do it, and it would be interesting to see how we get on.”

Whilst Grice is looking for further additions to bolster his side, he has already convinced River Smith to wear green and white next season.

Smith scored 11 goals in 22 games for Christchurch and Bashley last campaign.

“It’s a case of few of the lads aren't keen on the travel, so they're not going to step up and play,” continued Grice.

“And then with the others, we're just balancing it out, see what we get to go up and compete, who's interested, because we haven't got a budget, so we're not attracting the players and stuff like that.

“But we got River (Smith). We kept hold of all of our forwards as well from last year. I think combined, even though they didn't play a lot, I think combined they scored near on 100 goals between them.

“So looking at that, a lot of the lads that played last season have got experience at Wessex Prem and Wessex One level, so it's a case of just balancing it out and trying to get a squad that will gel nicely and play how we want to play as well.”