Hessenthaler delivery pleases Dover chairman

CHAIRMAN Jim Parmenter says Dover Athletic and Andy Hessenthaler fit like a boxing glove – and that ultimately delivered a knockout blow to the club’s Ryman League One South rivals, writes Justin Allen.

Whites finally won the 2007-08 contest in the 39th round of matches when Jimmy Dryden delivered the final punch. The referee stopped the fight – challengers Tooting and Cray could not get back off the canvas.

The next bout is the Ryman Premier Championship and Mr Parmenter is predicting a box office hit with heavyweights AFC Wimbledon, Maidstone, Dartford and Folkestone all potentially lining up in the ring alongside Whites, Tonbridge, Margate and Ramsgate.

He told www.doverathletic.com: “Fans are hopefully going to see some great local derbies. It’ll almost be like being in the Conference in terms of some of the big attendance figures we can expect.

“I sincerely hope Folkestone and Maidstone stay up – and Dartford win promotion from Ryman North – because it will make for a mouth-watering season, something we’re all excited about.”

The Dover chairman is hoping for promotion again next season – although he appreciates that there are some wily old campaigners who will not roll over for the Hess Express without a fight.

But Hessenthaler is like a boxer in the gym, plotting a way through Ryman Premier defences and how to keep the guard up to put Dover Athletic in tip-top condition for the next contest.

Mr Parmenter said: “I don't want to be arrogant and say we're only visiting the Premier. But our aim is to get back to Conference level football (now called the Blue Square Premier). We’ve a good squad of players here, which they've proved by losing just three games on their way to the championship.

“We will be making additions to the squad. We've a good group of players and the set up as it is will compete with a good many of the clubs. But we want to do more than just compete with a good many, we want to compete with all of them so we will recruit fresh faces to try and achieve that.”

Hessenthaler arriving at Crabble was arguably one of the biggest coups in the club’s history – ranking alongside signing David Leworthy for a then non-league record £50,000 in August 1993.

The Whites chairman was even quoted the day he recruited the Gillingham legend that it was the greatest appointment he had made – so convinced that he had landed the man who could bring the good times back to Dover Athletic.

He said: “I was certain he would deliver us promotion. If anyone asked me who was my ideal choice for the job, Andy Hessenthaler was always top of the list. It's turned out that way. He's won the title at his first try. Andy and Dover Athletic Football Club are like a hand in a boxing glove - it just fits.

Andy and his assistant Darren Hare have brought a tremendous professionalism to the club that you would expect from two guys who have been involved with full-time pros at Football League clubs – and that is something we've tried to replicate throughout Dover Athletic with whatever we do. Whether it is the ground, secretarial work, whatever, we try to do it like we are a Football League club – and that's how I want our club to be run.

“We still have habits from our Conference days. But it is my belief that, in business or everyday life, if you run things to the most professional standard you can, when you do progress you are ready for it.”

Emotions were running high at the final whistle after the 1-0 win against Burgess Hill confirmed the title was finally coming to Dover after three years in Ryman One South and four years of being up against the ropes before that.

Mr Parmenter could barely watch the final 10 minutes, he was so tense and excited at the prospect that the hour of glory was moments away.

He said: “Taking a look at the faces of everyone when we finally did it made all the hard work and previous struggles worthwhile.

“In 2005 we were 24 hours from going out of business, we had suffered three relegations in four seasons, managers had come and gone, players had come and gone and there was no stability. It took three years to get ourselves back up the tree again.

“You have to remember the club had no strength to it. It was weakened in all areas. Clive Walker brought in new players, some worked, some didn't. They did fantastically well to get to the play-off final. It was one of those unlucky things, we had key players injured. We also just missed out on the title last season by a few points.

“That's how badly the luck has gone against us. We've improved the club again by bringing in Andy and new players - and it's come off for us.

“People talk about sacking managers when results are bad. I've always maintained, you appoint the best boss at the time and I feel I've done that.

“Clive got to the play-offs twice and was desperately unlucky, but we needed a change. The fact Andy was available at the time was a god-send for the club.”

Anyone would think that Mr Pamenter would now just enjoy a nice long summer holiday break away from football. Not a chance.

Admittedly he will be taking a 10-day break with his wife, Sally, and rest assured he will have his mobile phone close by.

But this is going to be a busy summer at Crabble. Not only will Hessenthaler be busy in the transfer market, bringing players in and moving others out, Dover Athletic will be making major improvements to Crabble.

The new Centre Spot clubhouse will be built and the sponsors lounge will be getting a massive facelift.

The chairman admits the clubhouse will probably not be ready to open its doors until August due to a delay in the demolition of the current old building.

He said: “We've a slight problem as the current building is lined with asbestos boarding, which these days are complex and expensive to remove. But we will move heaven and earth to get it open, however we’re braced for possibly having to wait until the end of August until it will be ready.

It is so vital to have revenue streams from non-football activities to help fund our progression. The Centre Spot will be available for hire and the sponsors lounge will provide a far better environment for people to come to Crabble with their business colleagues.”

The burning question on everyone’s lips now is will Andy Hessenthaler be signing a new deal to extend his stay at Dover beyond next season.

Mr Parmenter is convinced he will and hopes to finalise within weeks an agreement with a man who has quickly established himself as a Dover legend, to add to his immortal status at Gillingham and Dartford.

He said: “Andy has a deal for another year. I've told him if a dream job comes along, we won't stand in his way. I understand that he is very happy to talk about the future. I hope we can conclude that before the end of the season.

“We’ve got momentum and want to capitalise on that now and push Dover Athletic further back up that ladder.”

Article courtesy of www.doverathletic.com