We need the crowds to return to see our push for the title, says Dover chairman

As we head into the last three months of the season, Dover Athletic chairman Mr Jim Parmenter spoke about his feelings about the current situation at the Ryman League Division One South club, both on and off the field.

As we head into the last three months of the season, Dover Athletic chairman Mr Jim Parmenter spoke about his feelings about the current situation at the Ryman League Division One South club, both on and off the field.

Mr Parmenter spoke to Justin Allen, the editor of www.doverathletic.com, in a question and answer session and some of the chairman’s views are published here.

Dover Athletic are currently in third place in the table with 44 points from their 25 league games, just three points behind leaders Dulwich Hamlet and the chairman believes the club will secure promotion at the end of the season.

“We’re in a very strong position,” said Mr Parmenter. “We’ve got some crucial games coming up in the next five or six weeks. I would expect us to be a lot clearer about our chances of winning the title in March.

“We draw or lose a game and our fans call for somebody’s head. You don’t see that from other clubs but that just shows how high the expectations are at Dover.”

But Mr Parmenter voiced his concerns over the drop in crowds at Crabble, which are now averaging 748.

“It’s always a concern when the crowds drop slightly,” he said. “They’re not disastrously low but the more the town can get behind the club and come to the games, the more quickly our financial situation will be sorted out.

“We’ve got some big games coming up, Maidstone and Dartford at home. They’re going to be humdingers, real crackers and I’m sure we’ll get large crowds for those.

“Maidstone’s travelling support is very large. As we get nearer the run-n, when we’re up there really pushing for promotion, I would expect the crowds to increase.”

The Whites next two games are away from home, at Leatherhead tomorrow night and at local rivals Ashford Town on Saturday.

But Mr Parmenter wants the club to rack up enough points to avoid going through the lottery of the end of season play-off’s.

“We don’t want to (go through the play-off’s),” he said. “We want to win the league but you get what you earn and we’ll take any route out of this division.

“The play-off’s provide a good opportunity to get promoted. If you finished second, you are at home in the play-off’s so you have a very good chance.”

To read the entire interview, visit www.doverathletic.com