Dover miss out on Conference target

Jim Parmenter insists the club are pulling out all the stops to add real quality to the Dover Athletic squad for next season, writes Justin Allen - www.doverathletic.com

Whites narrowly missed out on signing one of their top targets, a player who was a regular at a Nationwide Conference club last season.

But the Dover chairman accepts that the club will have to be patient in their quest to bring fresh players to Crabble.

He said: "We came very close to getting one of our men but the player has decided to move to a Conference South club instead.

"As we've already said, we're looking at recruiting players from a higher level. We're an ambitious club and want ambitious quality players here.

"We're working hard at that and, after assessing last season, know where we need to strengthen."

Meanwhile the club are looking to recruit a new physio and there could be an announcement on that this week.

Current physio Frank Clarke will continue in his role as the club's secretary.

Also a rumour circulating on a Ryman League fans forum that Dover Athletic are to appoint Chris Kinnear as their manager for next season is "a load of rubbish".

The chairman said: "Clive Walker has signed a new contract and is our manager next season. We've made our position very clear on this. I don't understand why people start up this rubbish."