Walker tells Dover board: Thanks for showing faith in me

Clive Walker has paid tribute to the Dover Athletic board of directors after they decided to renew his contract for another season this week, writes Justin Allen - www.doverathletic.com

The Whites boss, who is preparing his team for arguably the club's biggest-ever match in recent seasons, praised the board for:

Showing courage during rough times.

Understanding the importance of having stability at a football club.

Taking into account his managerial record during two spells in charge at Dover Athletic as well as his impressive record in the game.

Backing him financially and giving him the best chance of bringing quality players to Crabble.

And not buckling under pressure.

Clive WILL pen the contract and has vowed to improve the team during the summer by adding two or three quality players - to give them the best chance of success next season.

He said: "This job is only half-done. I said all along that Dover Athletic was going to need a massive rebuild - and I believe this team is already developing well, and a marked improvement on the side I inherited in January 2005.

"We've had a lot of bad luck with injuries. Some will say I am making excuses by bringing that up - but it is a fact. Those injuries suffered during the two Dartford FA Trophy matches and the freak injury suffered by Jimmy Dryden just after we signed him has disrupted us completely. I am very confident that we'd have gained automatic promotion had we not had such bad luck on the injury front.

"You only have to take a look at the league table and see that we've ended not that far away from second spot - so imagine what would have happened had Dryden been scoring goals in those matches we drew while he was injured. It would've been a different story.

"It's so important now to just focus on the last game of the season against Whyteleafe - and then take each game as it comes in the play-offs - because, believe me, this team has done very well to even get into this position after all the problems we've had."

The injury curse has struck again and Daniel Braithwaite and Shane Hamshare have both been ruled out until the end of the season - and Danny Chapman is of course suspended for three games now. Also James Rogers will have to sit out the play-offs if we reach them.

But, despite that, Walker believes it's still possible to pull off promotion back to the Premier Division - and insists the fans can help his team by cheering them on, as they have throughout the run-in this season.

He said: "It's all down to fate now. The fans can really make a difference. It gets the players buzzing and we're all desperate to do well for them. Also we're desperate to do well for the board, who have done a great job.

"During the tough times we suffered this season - and it happens at every club - the board have been under pressure. But they're an experienced board and haven't buckled. It's a true strength of character when people don't buckle when times are tough.

"This club has changed managers far too many times - and I believe my record is good here. I am looking forward to spending a 10th season at the club. I just thank the board for showing faith in me."

Walker has amassed 203 points in 130 league matches in charge – taking in two caretaker spells in charge after Gary Bellamy and Neville Southall were sacked during their last Conference season in 2001-02. He has already amassed three points more than the 71 when we finished third in the Dr Martens Premier Division in 2002-03. Of course, he took the club to the FA Cup first-round proper for the first time ever that season too.

He said: "We will be working on bringing new players to the club in the summer.

"This job, whether we get promoted or not, is a long way off from being finished. We've made progress this season - and if we get promoted will have reached what we set out to do.

"It's a lottery now - that's the play-offs - but we still have a great chance and, as I said, it’s all down to fate now."