Hessenthaler plans shake-up at champions-elect Dover Athletic

WITH HIS side currently eighteen points clear at the top of the Ryman Premier League table, you can forgive Andy Hessenthaler for thinking about who he needs to bring to Dover Athletic for next season’s Blue Square South campaign, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Whites boss, speaking to BBC Radio Kent last weekend, saw his side’s 100% home record ended by Carshalton Athletic, as the Kent giants needed a last-gasp strike from Jerahl Hughes to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s trip to Essex to face Harlow Town, the former Gillingham ace says he is pleased to have spent this week working with his players instead of playing games.

“We’ve got a week off, we’re in the quarter-final of the League Cup but that’s not until the week after so we’ll have a nice easy week this week training wise,” he said.

“The pitch is quite heavy at the moment so we’re looking at a few tired legs in there.”

With the Kent club destined to walk off with the title, although Staines Town have three games in hand and come to play the Whites next month, Hessenthaler is already planning for next season.

And going by the standard of football of this week’s Blue Square South games between Hampton & Richmond Borough-Welling United and Fisher Athletic-Eastleigh, then the Whites shouldn’t have too many problems as the standard is very similar to the Ryman Premier League.

“There’s some quality players at the football club,” he said. “We’ve already tested ourselves against AFC (Wimbledon) this season. I’s a long season and a couple of players are looking a bit tired but we’ve got the squad but we may have to shake things up.

“There will be changes certainly, there will be players who will leave the football club, that’s part of the business and players who will come in, but hopefully once we get this promotion.

“There’s still a lot of football to be played, we can then look to do the business and make a challenge for next season as well.”

Quotes courtesy of BBC Radio Kent: www.bbc.co.uk/kent

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com and www.dafctv.co.uk

Harlow Town v Dover Athletic
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 21^st February 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Barrows Farm Stadium, off Elizabeth Way, The Pinnacles, Harlow, Essex CM19 5BL