BEMERTON Heath Harlequins' new manager will be ex-Dorchester Town and Christchurch boss Graham Kemp, who says he is looking forward to bringing free-flowing passing football to Western Way.

Long-standing head coach Ian Chalk had previously stated he would stand down at the end of the season but he has now brought that forward to March 21.

Chalk said: “It was always going to work out this way and we all agreed at the club that it was important to get the new man in before the season finished to give him a chance to work with the players for a short time and for both parties to have a look at each other.”

Kemp left Southern Premier side Dorchester after just four months in charge, with the Magpies losing seven of their last eight games, but he is now looking to the future and aiming for promotion.

He said: “It is not a short term project, we don’t expect to be champions in one season – although that would be nice – it is about building from the fanbase that Chalky has left behind.

“You have to move forward every year, I am not coming here to finish tenth or 12th. I have plenty time from now until pre-season to look at the lads and evaluate them, so next season we can hit the ground running.

“We are looking to play passing football, Bemerton’s facilities are great and it would be a waste if we didn’t get the ball down and pass it.

“If I am honest, I like to play high tempo football, keeping the ball on the deck.

“I want to stress that it will be a clean slate for everybody at the club and everything else is forgotten, they don’t know me, I don’t know them, so I don’t have any preconceived ideas about anything.”