Vines will settle his future "by Monday" - EXCLUSIVE

Central defender Joe Vines will decide whether he’s going to sign for Ryman League Division One South giants Dover Athletic after the weekend, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 26-year-old, whose played in Kent for Cray Wanderers, Bromley and Welling United, played for the Whites’ rivals Tooting & Mitcham United last season, suffering play-off final heartbreak when the south Londoners lost to Hastings United, who clinched promotion with Maidstone United.

But the Sidcup based defender was impressed with Dover Athletic when he played for the Kent club during today’s 4-1 defeat to Coca Cola League One side Gillingham, in front of 3,011 fans at a sun-kissed Crabble today.

It was Vines’ third pre-season outing, having already played for Tooting & Mitcham United against Charlton Athletic (0-5) and AFC Wimbledon (1-4).

With the Terrors’ clash with Premiership side Reading postponed today, Vines made the trip to play for Dover Athletic - and was impressed with the Crabble club.

And he’ll be making a decision whether to continue to play for Billy Smith and George Wakeling at Imperial Fields - or to opt for a move to Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover.

“It’s just a case of having a look around really,” Vines said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after Dover’s opening pre-season outing.

“They’re (Dover) obviously interested in signing me, and it’s just a case whether or not the travelling, or the environment down here, is right.

“Obviously I’m still in talks with Tooting at the moment, so nothing’s been decided, but I like what I saw today - it’s just a case of making the final decision really.”

Vines was, however, impressed with the facilities at Crabble, especially the stunning, lush playing surface.

He said: “Dover are a massive club, good support, beautiful stadium (with a) lovely pitch and (they’ve) got a good side.”

With his brother, prolific scorer Paul “Charlie” Vines also at Tooting & Mitcham United, Joe needs to spend the rest of the weekend pondering which club will get his signature.

“It’s a difficult to make that sort of decision,” he admitted. “Obviously my brother’s at Tooting at well. That’s a factor, but we have to wait and see.

“I’ll be letting all parties know by Monday. I can’t leave people hanging on, especially George and Billy.

“They’re keen for me to stay at Tooting, and I’ve got a lot of respect for those two.”

But Vines admitted that neither club holds the advantage over the other for his signature.

“No-one’s winning or losing at the moment, Steve,” he said. “But I need to make a decision over the next couple of days.”

Hessenthaler, taking charge of Dover Athletic for the very first time today, was impressed with the trialist, who formed a good partnership with Craig Cloke, who played the entire 90 minutes.

“He’s aint even trained with us, he’s just turned up and played, and I thought him and Clokey done very well together,” Hessenthaler said of Vines.

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com