Pics: Idris Martin
By Jon Couch
ROOKIE boss Mark Molesley reckons the feel good factor on the Dorset coast can help inspire his Weymouth side to an Evo-Stik South Premier play-off push.
Molesley’s former club AFC Bournemouth sent shockwaves through the Premier League last week, breaking the bank to sign England striker Jermain Defoe and Chelsea defender Nathan Ake for a club record £22m fee.
And Molesley – who works as a full-time youth coach at the Vitality Stadium – believes the high spirits among the football community can spread 36 miles down the coast to the Bob Lucas Stadium and lift the Terras to a successful season.
“The area is buzzing at the moment with what’s going on at Bournemouth,” the former Aldershot Town and Stevenage midfielder told The NLP.
“It’s a real fairytale and sends a good message to all young players what hard work and dedication can do. There’s a real feel good factor in the area, hopefully it can filter down and inspire us.”
Molesley, 36, is preparing for his first full season as a manager after replacing Jason Matthews in the final throws of last term.
But despite strengthening his squad with the likes of trio Brandon Goodship, Jake McCarthy and Callum Buckley, Molesley has already suffered his first managerial blow after losing last year’s talismanic captain Stephane Zubar to Yeovil Town.
The 30-year-old centre-back, who had spells with Plymouth Argyle and Bournemouth, joined the Terrras on non-contract terms at the beginning of last season and proved an instant hit with the fans, taking over as skipper and leading the side to a healthy top ten finish.
But Zubar, a Guadeloupe international formerly with Bury, Port Vale and York City, admitted he couldn’t resist another chance to play in the Football League, joining the Huish Park club on a one-year deal.
“It is a blow to lose your skipper, especially so close to the start of pre-season,” Molesley added. “It came out of the blue, but Stephane is a good player and good players always attract interest.
“The opportunity to go back in the Football League, especially at his age, was just too good to turn down and you can never begrudge anyone that opportunity to move onto bigger and better things.
“He’s been a great servant to the club in a short space of time and goes with our blessings. Yeovil have got themselves a very good player.”
