*BS*ROB GILLMAN has signed for Dover Athletic – ending the club’s one-year pursuit for the Bromley captain.

*BF*Former boss Andy Hessenthaler tried to sign the centre-half last summer but new gaffer Martin Hayes managed to land his man today.

Hayes – who managed Gillman when he was a youngster at Bishop’s Stortford – is a big fan and made him a top target as soon as he sat in the Whites hotseat.

He said: “Rob is a good footballer and someone who is joining us for all the right reasons.

“The lad is ambitious and I know he wants to play at a higher level of football. He had a chance to play in the Blue Square Premier for Grays – but the deal wasn’t quite right for him to give up his job.

“Bromley obviously didn’t want to lose him. No-one wants to lose their captain. And he’s coming here to improve as a player and because he sees the ambition we have to go for promotion.

“He played for me at Stortford so I know all about him – and he ticks so many boxes for us. We needed a centre-half, he is a good player, has a good attitude – and he is a Kent boy too, so he will be a good fit for Dover.”

Gillman said: “Martin is a good manager. I worked with him before and he gets the best out of players. He also has a proven track record of finding little gems and can be a big success at Dover.

“I wanted to be part of that as this is a club that can for sure get into the Conference – and I want to play at the highest level possible.”

Assistant-boss Paul Joynes added: “Rob is a terrific player and did well for us at Stortford. We got him from Luton then and he has bags of potential. He’s a player who we hope to develop and get him with us into the Conference.”

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Hayes has been impressed by the fitness levels in training – and cannot wait to start some ball work with the players.

He said: “It’s all been about getting fitness levels up. Everyone has turned up in good condition, which is very pleasing, and now we’re chomping at the bit for the pre-season games to start.

“Obviously, we’ve not done any ball work yet so we’ll be gradually getting into that – and playing some pre-season games, which are designed to get more competitive to prepare us for a long tough season.”

*BS*ROB GILLMAN thinks Dover Athletic have all the correct ingredients to launch another promotion bid.

*BF*And he reckons Martin Hayes is the ideal head chef to blend it all together and cook up a treat for Whites fans this season.

Gillman – who has completed his move from Bromley – jumped at the chance to join his former Bishop’s Stortford boss once he landed the Dover job.

And now he believes the Mighty Whites will be bubbling along quite nicely towards the top of the table this season.

He said: “This is an impressive set-up and definitely a club that’s going places.

“I thought Dover were a very good side in the two games we played against them last season – especially the game down at Crabble. They were well organised and very tough to play against.

“Martin rang me and asked had I signed a new deal yet at Bromley. I hadn’t – and he wanted to know if I fancied joining him at Dover.

“I didn’t need long to make my mind up to come because I worked with Martin before – and he’s a very good manager.

“He has a habit of finding gems – like Steve Morrison for example.

“Martin built a very good team at Bishop’s Stortford. He is a boss who gets the best out of players and only expects the very best.”

Gillman only knows Dean Hill from the current squad – and is excited about the prospect of playing with new team-mates.

He said: “I know Dean Hill from when he was at Ashford. But apart from that I don’t know any of the lads – apart from having played against them. I can’t wait to get to know everyone. We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us.”

*BS*PAUL JOYNES says he and Whites boss Martin Hayes fit like a glove.

*BF*The newly-appointed Dover Athletic assistant manager has known Hayes for more than a decade – and insists they are a perfect match to help take up the challenge at Crabble.

Joynes was No2 to Hayes while he managed Bishop’s Stortford, where they took the club from Ryman One to the Blue Square South on a shoestring budget.

He said: “I knew Martin through work and was managing Aveley. I used to always pick Martin’s brain about football stuff. Then he asked me to become his assistant at Stortford and we did a good job there.

*Lpic1*“It was a perfect match, Martin and I. He had contacts at League clubs and knew young players who were being released and had potential to get back into the pro game, while I knew the rough diamonds playing in the lower leagues of non-league who just needed a little polishing.

“And we were able to mould all this together into a team that worked hard for each other and played good football.

“We want to put a smile back on players’ faces that have had disappointments elsewhere and get them back on the road to being a full-time pro or very good semi-pro player.

“Steve Morrison and Greg Pearson are a couple of examples of players we’ve picked up who are now playing at a higher level.”

Joynes says he already knows a fair bit about a few Dover players – Adam Birchall, Joe Tabiri, Ross Flitney, Lee Hook and Tom Wynter.

He said: “Adam, Joe and Ross were all at Barnet – when we were at Stortford – and Hooky, we know from his Eastbourne days, while Mark Robson, the former Gillingham assistant, has given us a lot of information about Tom, who he rated highly.

“We know a fair bit – and already can see there are a dozen lads from last season who did very well for the club. It’s just a case of bringing in some players around them to push the team to the next level.

*Q1*“This is a massive club in non-league and we’re aiming at the very least to get into the Conference, and then I suppose the potential is here to push for the Football League. But Blue Square Premier is our target as things stand – but this division is not easy and there are plenty of good teams.

“The club did very well to finish second last season on the back of two successive promotions. The challenge is huge to maintain that but we’re going to give it a good go.”

Joynes admits that one of the biggest tasks – alongside signing five or six new players – is to appoint a captain. But, so far, the new management duo are none the wiser as to who will be wearing the armband.

He said: “They’re a quiet bunch of lads so at this moment in time we need to take a good look at that. There are obviously some big characters in the dressing room, as they finished second last season, but Martin and I still need to ascertain as to who will be skipper.”

*BS*ROB GILLMAN has signed for Dover Athletic – ending the club’s one-year pursuit for the Bromley captain.

*BF*Former boss Andy Hessenthaler tried to sign the centre-half last summer but new gaffer Martin Hayes managed to land his man today.

Hayes – who managed Gillman when he was a youngster at Bishop’s Stortford – is a big fan and made him a top target as soon as he sat in the Whites hotseat.

He said: “Rob is a good footballer and someone who is joining us for all the right reasons.

“The lad is ambitious and I know he wants to play at a higher level of football. He had a chance to play in the Blue Square Premier for Grays – but the deal wasn’t quite right for him to give up his job.

“Bromley obviously didn’t want to lose him. No-one wants to lose their captain. And he’s coming here to improve as a player and because he sees the ambition we have to go for promotion.

“He played for me at Stortford so I know all about him – and he ticks so many boxes for us. We needed a centre-half, he is a good player, has a good attitude – and he is a Kent boy too, so he will be a good fit for Dover.”

Gillman said: “Martin is a good manager. I worked with him before and he gets the best out of players. He also has a proven track record of finding little gems and can be a big success at Dover.

“I wanted to be part of that as this is a club that can for sure get into the Conference – and I want to play at the highest level possible.”

Assistant-boss Paul Joynes added: “Rob is a terrific player and did well for us at Stortford. We got him from Luton then and he has bags of potential. He’s a player who we hope to develop and get him with us into the Conference.”

*Link1*

Hayes has been impressed by the fitness levels in training – and cannot wait to start some ball work with the players.

He said: “It’s all been about getting fitness levels up. Everyone has turned up in good condition, which is very pleasing, and now we’re chomping at the bit for the pre-season games to start.

“Obviously, we’ve not done any ball work yet so we’ll be gradually getting into that – and playing some pre-season games, which are designed to get more competitive to prepare us for a long tough season.”

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC are pleased to announce that all pre-ordered season tickets have now been despatched.

*BF*Season Tickets have been sent out today (July 6) and will be delivered by recorded post tomorrow before 1pm.

If you are not in when the postman calls, don’t worry! He/she will leave you a card to rearrange delivery, or you can pop down to the sorting office to pick up your shiny new card.

There has been another terrific response from supporters again this season, with sales matching last year.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “We’re delighted with the support we’ve received again this year, we thought that sales may be hit a little by our price rise and little improvement in the economic situation, but our supporters have been marvellous again!”

We do not envisage any problems, but if you have not received your season ticket by Thursday and have not received a card from Royal Mail, please let us know and we will ensure you have your card by Saturday.

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC have signed a new kit deal for the new season with Chablais Sport.

*BF*The new Whites kit will be officially unveiled during the pre-season at a date yet to be announced.

But the new strip is swanky and made with high-quality materials using the latest technology.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “The CEO of Chablais lives in the area and heard about our plight with our previous kit supplier and offered to help out.

“We’ve agreed a great deal – and are looking forward to an exciting working relationship with Chablais.”

Chablais Sport CEO Paul Jago said: “We’re delighted to be able to work with Dover Athletic as our first senior football club in the UK.

“It is especially pleasing for myself and my family as Dover are our local club.

“This exciting new relationship between Chablais Sport will allow Whites to produce completely custom designed kits as well as being the first in its league to wear the latest European materials putting them where they should be at the head.”

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC are pleased to announce that all pre-ordered season tickets have now been despatched.

*BF*Season Tickets have been sent out today (July 6) and will be delivered by recorded post tomorrow before 1pm.

If you are not in when the postman calls, don’t worry! He/she will leave you a card to rearrange delivery, or you can pop down to the sorting office to pick up your shiny new card.

There has been another terrific response from supporters again this season, with sales matching last year.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “We’re delighted with the support we’ve received again this year, we thought that sales may be hit a little by our price rise and little improvement in the economic situation, but our supporters have been marvellous again!”

We do not envisage any problems, but if you have not received your season ticket by Thursday and have not received a card from Royal Mail, please let us know and we will ensure you have your card by Saturday.

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC have signed a new kit deal for the new season with Chablais Sport.

*BF*The new Whites kit will be officially unveiled during the pre-season at a date yet to be announced.

But the new strip is swanky and made with high-quality materials using the latest technology.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “The CEO of Chablais lives in the area and heard about our plight with our previous kit supplier and offered to help out.

“We’ve agreed a great deal – and are looking forward to an exciting working relationship with Chablais.”

Chablais Sport CEO Paul Jago said: “We’re delighted to be able to work with Dover Athletic as our first senior football club in the UK.

“It is especially pleasing for myself and my family as Dover are our local club.

“This exciting new relationship between Chablais Sport will allow Whites to produce completely custom designed kits as well as being the first in its league to wear the latest European materials putting them where they should be at the head.”

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC have the Cards marked on the opening day of the season.

*BF*Whites kick-off their season against our play-off conquerors Woking at Kingsmead on Saturday August 14.

The club then entertain Welling on Tuesday, August 17 at home.

Our Christmas and New Year games are against Bromley.

We travel there on Boxing Day and they make the return trip on New Year’s Day.

Tasty fixtures against Dartford are on Tuesday November 9 (h) and Monday April 25 (a).

Our derbies against old friends Ebbsfleet take place on Tuesday August 24 (a) and Saturday January 29 (h).

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*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC have the Cards marked on the opening day of the season.

*BF*Whites kick-off their season against our play-off conquerors Woking at Kingsmead on Saturday August 14.

The club then entertain Welling on Tuesday, August 17 at home.

Our Christmas and New Year games are against Bromley.

We travel there on Boxing Day and they make the return trip on New Year’s Day.

Tasty fixtures against Dartford are on Tuesday November 9 (h) and Monday April 25 (a).

Our derbies against old friends Ebbsfleet take place on Tuesday August 24 (a) and Saturday January 29 (h).

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