DEFENDER Matt Oldring believes the play-offs should be the minimum target for the Magpies next term as they look to improve massively on a largely disappointing 2014/15 campaign.

Oldring impressed Dorchester boss Mark Jermyn enough last season to be offered a one-year deal which the former Weymouth man snapped up in May.

The 23-year-old was pleased with how he performed following his autumn arrival from Bashley, but he knows there is always room for improvement – and that goes for the team too.

“With a club the size of Dorchester, I think you’ve got to be aiming for the play-offs,” he told Echosport when looking ahead to next season.

“You can’t be hanging around where we were for the majority of last season.

“Results picked up at the back end of last season – we beat Corby and Poole – so hopefully we can push on and look at the play-offs at the very least.”

And on his own form, he added: “Personally, I thought it went really well last season and I managed to establish myself in the team.

“I enjoyed my football and felt I did well consistently throughout the season, but I’m always looking to improve and hopefully I can build on what I did.

“I obviously impressed the manager enough for him to give me a new deal and I’m very much looking forward to the season ahead.

“As soon as Jem spoke to me and said he wanted me to sign then I was happy to do it straight away.”

Oldring also thanked former county town chief Graham Kemp, who brought him to the Avenue last October.

“Kempy gave me an opportunity which I was grateful for,” he said.