DON Parsons believes Dorset & Wilts are facing a rebuilding mission – and he wants to be the leader of the revolution.
Parsons guided Twin Counties to within seconds of a third consecutive County Championship Shield final in his first season at the helm.
The head coach watched as his defending champions were denied a Twickenham treble by Leicestershire’s last-gasp penalty try.
That agonising finale marked the end of an era for Dorset & Wilts – with Bournemouth players no longer eligible for selection in the competition.
A number of Lions’ leading stars had featured in back-to-back Shield triumphs and no fewer than 10 were named in the starting line-up for the semi-final loss in Leicestershire.
But Bournemouth’s promotion to National Two South will rule them out of the Shield as counties are only permitted to select players from clubs at level five and below.
Parsons told the Daily Echo: “Those Bournemouth lads have played well for us for the past three years.
“It might be a bit of a rebuild for a couple of years but we will get some young lads in and see how we go.
“I am a bit of an interim coach so whether or not I get appointed to be full-time head coach next year, I don’t know.”
Parsons, who was forwards coach for Dorset & Wilts before being given the top job, added: “I have quite enjoyed it. I have been involved for the past three or four years and this was my first year as head coach.
“To fall at the semi-final stage was very disappointing but that is the nature of sport. You have to be positive and move on.”
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