PAT Baldwin believes there are a number of players who “have the ability” to make it professionally in the Weymouth squad, but insists they have to be dedicated to do it.

Baldwin, who announced that his season with the Terras this year was to be his last in the game, also outlined the members of the squad who he believes could play higher.

When revealing he was set to call time on his career as a footballer, Baldwin was asked by Echosport what the main piece of advice was that he would give a non-League player wanting to make their way up the footballing pyramid.

He said: “Work hard.

“Work hard, and be willing to dedicate your whole life to it.

“When I first started, although everyone was dedicated, you were still kind of able to play a little bit hard as well.

“There was kind of a big drinking culture when I first turned pro and it was great, but you certainly can’t get away with it now.

“If they are willing to give it a chance they have to be dedicated and be willing to listen to coaches and older pros.

“Some of the lads in that dressing room have the ability but time will tell whether they have actually got that mental toughness, because you need that to make it in the game full time, especially now.”

Quizzed on who he believed could play at a higher level in Weymouth’s current squad, the former Chelsea youngster added: “Calvin (Brooks) is the obvious one, I have spent a lot of time with Calvin and played alongside him and I think he has it.

“It’s down to him as an individual as to how much he wants it and whether he is willing to get there.

“There are others that potentially could but, playing non-League, it’s difficult to juggle working life with playing as well.

“I think Ashley (Wells) needs to have more confidence in his ability. I don’t think he realises how good he could be.

“Jake Wannell towards the end of the season sorted himself away from the pitch, that’s shown on it with a level of maturity that he didn’t have at the start of the season.

“There are quite a few that could potentially go higher but having the potential and it actually happening are two different things.”