WIMBORNE Town have moved quickly to back under-fire manager Christer Warren.

The Magpies boss was absent from Cuthbury on Monday as his struggling charges slumped to their second defeat of the Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division campaign - sparking speculation that the club's indifferent start to the season had piled the pressure on former Cherries star Warren.

But a Magpies statement confirmed yesterday that Warren was taking a "short period of leave" due to a "personal matter".

The statement read: "Following a personal matter involving Christer's employment away from the club, the manager will take a short period of leave in order to resolve the future for himself and his family.

"Christer Warren remains the manager of Wimborne Town Football and will continue to do so. In the meantime, assistant managers Adam Batchelor and Jim Cousins will continue to prepare the squad as normal."

After slipping out of the title race at the business end of last season, Warren bolstered his resources during a fruitful summer - bringing in experienced striker Danny Gibbons to battle it out with spearheads James Stokoe and Scott Joyce for a Cuthbury starting berth.

Ex-Poole Town man Dan Cann and highly-rated former VT FC midfielder Liam Green also joined Warren's ranks.

But things have not gone to plan for the Premier Division title favourites, with Warren's men crashing to a 3-2 opening day defeat at home to Brading Town.

And following Bank Holiday Monday's 2-1 reverse against Christchurch, Magpies are already 11 points adrift of runaway leaders Poole Town.

Rumours are also rife of dressing room unrest, with the prolific Joyce, yet to start a game this term, believed to be a target for both Poole and Brockenhurst.