DORCHESTER Town have confirmed Shaun Hearn will succeed Scott Symes as chairman at the end of the season.

Hearn is joined by new vice-chairman Cameron Dabbs, who steps up from the club’s board.

Symes will continue to serve the club in a new capacity as football director, working closely with manager Tom Killick.

Hearn formerly owned the Magpies up to 2013 before handing the club over to the fans, with whom ownership still lies under Community Benefit Society (CBS) rules.

READ MORE: Shaun Hearn steps down as Dorchester Town chairman in 2013

Assisting the club’s transition to community ownership, Hearn downgraded to joint-chairman with Neal Butterworth, who then fully took the reins until 2014.

Hearn has remained as a director under Symes, who has enjoyed five years in the role between 2019 and 2024.

Symes himself took over from Matt Lucas, named successor to Butterworth in 2014.

And Symes recognised Hearn as the “perfect candidate” to take the Magpies forward.

In a club statement, he said: "I am absolutely delighted that Shaun has agreed to take on the position as chairman.

“He has a wealth of experience in this role of course, and being a long-standing member of the current board, he was a perfect candidate in my view, in terms of experience, continuity and stability, as we enter an exciting era for the club."

Hearn paid tribute to Symes’ contribution, claiming the outgoing chief leaves the Magpies “unrecognisable from the one he inherited”.

“On behalf of all the board of directors, I want to thank Scott for the immense time, effort and incredible hard work he has put in to the role over the last five years,” Hearn said.

"When Scott took on the role, it’s fair to say that the club was not in the healthiest of states.

“Scott drew up a five-year plan to turn the club around, from top to bottom.

“Despite the considerable challenges of Covid and the financial implications this brought to the club, it is testament to his determination, hard work and leadership, that this plan has been realised.

“He leaves the role with the club almost unrecognisable from the one he inherited."

"Therefore, I am delighted that Tommy and I have persuaded Scott to stay on in the capacity of football director, where he will work closely with Tommy to assist him with the operations side of football.

“This will allow myself and the board to focus solely on running the club from a business perspective."

However, club secretary Darren Wells will stand down at the end of the season due to work commitments.

Symes added: "I want to thank Darren for his considerable time and effort he has given the club since volunteering to become the club’s secretary.

“It’s a demanding job and sadly one he could no longer give 100 per cent to alongside juggling his day job.

“We thank him for his service and wish him all the best for the future."

The Magpies wrap up their 2023/24 season at home to AFC Totton this Saturday (3pm), with a chance of finishing in seventh place.

Seventh would signal Dorchester’s highest league finish for 21 years, when the Magpies won the Southern League Eastern Division in 2002/03.

Elsewhere, Dorchester are offering free entry to the Totton finale for under-16s with tickets purchased in advance.

Visit http://dorchestertownfc.co.uk/tickets and use the promo code SCHOOLS for the discount.