CLIVE WALKER may have won his first two games in charge of Whites – but he is not entirely happy.

The Dover boss was alarmed by some of the defending at Staines on Saturday and again in the Kent Senior Cup match against Ashford on Tuesday – especially during the first half.

And Walker said: “In the first 45 minutes against Ashford we were awful. Defensively we were all over the shop. That is the main area of concern for me. It was quite alarming at times.

“Don’t get me wrong, there are some good players here and we have the makings of a good side.

“But it does concern me when defenders don’t do the basics right. We drifted out of position a few times, didn’t close down the opposition quickly enough and generally didn’t keep at them.

“We look decent when we have the ball but not so good when we don’t – and that is what I’ve picked up from watching the last two games. And, as I said, the first half against Ashford concerned me.”

Yet despite this Walker is delighted with what he has seen up front and seven goals in two games is good by anyone’s standards.

He admitted: “We look good going forward. It looks as though we’ve got goals in us – so that’s pleasing. I’ve no problems so far in that area of the team.”

The Whites chief is hoping to sign two players in the next week although he admitted it may take a couple more weeks to get the men in he needs.

He said: “I want to get a couple of players in who I trust to do certain jobs. I don’t want to say what positions because some of the lads may think I’m replacing them.

“That may not be the case because some of these lads can play in a couple of positions. So it may be that I bring in a left back or right back, for example, and push the left back or right back in midfield. That’s just an example – not necessarily what I’m going to do.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of clubs and it may take a week or two to get the players in who I want.”

Walker admits it is difficult to rectify the defensive problems on the training pitch at the moment. The Dover boss needs access to a full-size pitch, which is not always possible this time of year.

He said: “We’ve been training at the Hoverspeed Stadium but I don’t want us training on there all the time because it mucks up the pitch.

“The area behind the ground is too small for the kind of work we need to do – so it’s vital we find a full-size pitch for next season to train on.

“I’ve had the lads up on the pitch at the stadium this last week but we won’t be able to train on it tonight. And when you are trying to do work on sorting out defensive situations, you need to.

“So it’s difficult but that’s something we’ll have to look into for next season for sure.”

Meanwhile Dean Palmer has expressed to Walker that he is happy to stay at Dover – despite a seven day notice from East Thurrock.

But Walker added: “We can’t stop East Thurrock talking to him and it’ll be down to Dean. However, I have spoken to the lad and he seems happy to stay here.”

The situation at the bottom remains critical and Walker knows only too well that time is running out to save Whites from relegation. But two wins in a week breeds confidence and victory on Saturday against Windsor and Eton will surely make some of the teams above the relegation zone look over their shoulders.

Walker said: “We’ve just got to keep winning. It’s a bit like cup football now. To go from now to the end of the season unbeaten is a huge task and someone is bound to beat us – but we’ve got two wins in a row and will be aiming to win again on Saturday. That’s what we’ve got to keep doing.”