Chairman Interview

By George Cory

Watch the full interview here – https://youtu.be/BIKqo_Y4GeQ

Jim Parmenter wants Dover Athletic to start putting smiles back on the fans’ faces again.

The chairman took time out of preparing for a new campaign to speak to fans in an in-depth interview with The Sun’s chief EFL writer and lifelong Dover fan Justin Allen.

In the chat, Jim speaks about:

  • The new community direction the club are now taking
  • How much the two relegations in three seasons have hurt and what he and the club have learned
  • The club’s recovery from Covid
  • His admiration for clubs like former Dover player’s Crawley Town, who won promotion to League One despite not having a huge budget 
  • Why the club are not going to sign experienced journeymen players who are only interested in money and instead ones that want to play for Dover to improve the team and their own careers
  • Explains why Crabble will be a cashless stadium this season but allays any concerns from supporters who prefer to spend hard money at the ground
  • How he is still hoping to build a 4G pitch next to Crabble and looking at other possibilities in the area
  • His wish to grow girls’ football thanks to the hard work of Vikki Pawley and further improve the youth section
  • The club’s superb relationship with main club sponsor Megger and gratitude that Delivered News are on board again this coming season
  • His desire to see a football regulator appointed as soon as possible after the General Election to police football fairly so small clubs like Dover don’t get thrown by the wayside like they were during the pandemic
  • The club’s decision to reduce admission fees and his wish to see the 200 Club lottery draw grow

    Also in the 25-minute feature, recorded in the home dressing room at Crabble, Jim speaks about the team’s brand new home and away kits for the upcoming season.

    And he also assures supporters that his enthusiasm and passion for Dover Athletic has not been drained one bit – and now he is retired from his business he has more time to dedicate to helping the club grow.

    The Whites chairman also tells Justin that there will be many more signings in the coming weeks.

    He said: “Everyone thinks they are Ronaldo in June but then in July they become more reasonable — or at least agents think their players are.

    “We’ll be solid this season, we’ll be positive and I think we’ll do very well.”