Kieran Murphy has backed up Hampton & Richmond Borough chairman Steve McPherson’s desire to get out of the Ryman Premier Division next season.

McPherson is set to meet boss Alan Dowson as the end of the season approaches to hammer out their strategy to mastermind a return to Conference South football.

The Beavers appear to be heading in the right direction under the former Kingstonian manager after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet at the Beveree, which came via a lone Charlie Moone strike.

Hampton have now beaten two of the top three teams in the Premier Division this season under Dowson, and have climbed out of the relegation zone since he took charge.

The manager has been slowly clearing the decks of those players at the club believed not to be good enough to sustain a promotion challenge next term with Jesse Kewley-Graham the highest profile victim.

McPherson is hoping to finance a promotion challenge next term and ex-Ks defender Murphy, who signed a one-and-a-half year deal over the festive period, is confident he and Dowson can deliver.

“I would not have signed for that long if I did not think the club was capable of going forward,” said the former Ks defender, who worked under Dowson at Kingsmeadow before switching to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Hampton & Richmond: Dowson knew Moone would come good for Beavers

“We don’t want to be fighting relegation scraps like we are at the moment.

“Hopefully we can secure our safety over the next few weeks and kick on in to next season.”

He added: “I know this club has ambition.

“They have struggled over the past few seasons in the Conference South and Ryman Premier Division.

“No club has a divine right to be at the top of the league, but this club has ambition and it is time for the players to prove that on the pitch.”

Murphy who captained Great Britain to the World University Games final during his spell at Kingsmeadow, arrived at the Beveree earlier in the season on loan from Hemel Hempstead, but was forced back due to injuries.

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He had quit Ks hoping he could help win promotion from the Southern League Premier Division with Hemel, and then prove himself at Conference South level.

“Alan got me down on loan at Hampton, when I wasn’t involved at Hemel and when I went back there they had changed the way they were doing things and I wasn’t wanted,” added the Teddington-based centre back.

“It was a shame because I’d had a great season there the year before and wanted to test myself in the Conference South, but it did not work out that way.

“It was a no-brainer to sign for Alan. I had a good season at Ks. I was only there one season, but I enjoyed it and enjoyed working with Dowse.”