*BS*FRANNIE COLLIN has opted to join Dover Athletic following his release from Gillingham this summer.

*BF*The prolific former Chatham hitman is hot property and even received a concrete offer from a Scottish League Division One club.

But Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler stole a march on the entire non-league game by snapping him up on a one-year contract.

Hess and chairman Jim Parmenter held talks with Frannie, 20, at Crabble on Thursday afternoon – and he made an instant decision to join the club.

Assistant-boss Darren Hare told supporters at the meet-the-manager event at Crabble: “Frannie’s an excellent player and a hot prospect, who I feel was overlooked by Gillingham. He never really got a chance there.

“He’s quick and scores goals – he’ll be a great asset to this club.”

*BS*There will be further comment on this signing and an exclusive audio playback of the meet-the-manager evening on doverathletic.com later on today.

*Link1*

*BS*ANDY HESSENTHALER is meeting supporters at Crabble in a special meet-the-manager event tonight (6.30pm).

*BF*It gives you the chance to ask Andy himself how preparations for the new season is progressing – and question chairman Jim Parmenter on off-the-field activities, including plans to build a new clubhouse.

Hot food and drinks will be available – the bar will also be open. It is expected to be a well attended event as Dover fans welcome Hess to the club for the first time.

See you tonight!

NULL

NULL

Dover Athletic Club Shop have announced the launch of two new limited edition T-shirts to celebrate the appointment of Andy Hessenthaler as First Team Manager.

There are only a small number of T-shirts being produced and they are available from Saturday.

Club Shop Manager, Joe Lowney said “The T-shirts look great and being limited edition I’m sure they will be straight out the door. Everybody is very excited about Hess coming to the club and these T-Shirt will allow supporters to let everyone know with pride!”

The T-shirts are priced at £9.25 and will be available this Saturday from 10am at the club shop.

The club shop will be closed for a couple of weeks after Saturday, with the t-shirts going back on sale during the pre-season friendly fixtures.

You can also order by e-mail, although an additional postage and Packing fee will apply.

The Shirts:
*Lpic1* *Lpic2*

*Link2*

*Link1*

Dover Athletic Club Shop have announced the launch of two new limited edition T-shirts to celebrate the appointment of Andy Hessenthaler as First Team Manager.

There are only a small number of T-shirts being produced and they are available from Saturday.

Club Shop Manager, Joe Lowney said “The T-shirts look great and being limited edition I’m sure they will be straight out the door. Everybody is very excited about Hess coming to the club and these T-Shirt will allow supporters to let everyone know with pride!”

The T-shirts are priced at £9.25 and will be available this Saturday from 10am at the club shop.

The club shop will be closed for a couple of weeks after Saturday, with the t-shirts going back on sale during the pre-season friendly fixtures.

You can also order by e-mail, although an additional postage and Packing fee will apply.

The Shirts:
*Lpic1* *Lpic2*

*Link2*

*Link1*

NULL

*BS*ANDY HESSENTHALER has been unveiled as Dover Athletic’s new manager.

*BF*”Hess” is a well-known name in football – having played for Watford, Gillingham, Hull and Barnet in an illustrious Football League career spanning nearly 20 years.

Andy, 41, also had a four-year spell as player-manager for the Gills, successfully keeping the club in the Championship against all the odds.

He hung up his boots from playing professional football this summer after a short spell at League Two club Barnet.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “Getting Andy to manage our side is something of a coup for us. He’s a top manager and been successful at Championship level. He is a Kent lad through and through – and we’re very excited about what Hess can bring to this club.

“He is without doubt a big name in the game – and we’re a very ambitious club.

“We have challenged Andy to get this club promoted up the divisions. We want to reach the Football League one day – that’s always been Dover Athletic’s ultimate ambition. What an achievement that would be if Andy can take us all the way.

“Hess is well up for the challenge and is very excited about it. I’ve been in contact with him several times during the past few years when we’ve tried to get him here as a player.

“We’ve spoken at great lengths about what we want to achieve at Dover Athletic and Andy can’t wait to get to work.”

*Q1*However, after two seasons at Ryman One level, everyone involved with Whites know what a tough division this is to get out of.

And Hess, who will be Dover Athletic’s 20th managerial appointment, is under no illusions how difficult winning promotion this season will be.

He has taken the position on a full-time basis and will combine his managerial duties with a commercial and community role.

Hess said: “I’m very excited about the challenge that lies ahead here at Crabble – and cannot wait to get started in helping this club get back up to where it belongs.

“Dover Athletic is a very big club and with no disrespect to other clubs should be playing at a much higher level.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and it’s going to be taking up a lot of my time this summer. It’s going to be a big job and I’m so excited to be wearing more than one hat. It’s a chance to help mould the club from top to bottom.”

Hess will be registering as a player and added: “I played 30-odd games last season in League Two at Barnet, so believe I still have something to offer.

“However, I am more focused on the managerial side of things – that is my main priority here.”

*BS*BACKGROUND FOR MEDIA

*BF*Dover Athletic – a former Conference National club – have spent two seasons in Ryman League Division One since ending a run of three relegations in four years due to a cash crisis.

*Lpic1*A new regime, headed by chairman Jim Parmenter, took over the club in January 2005 with the sole aim of restoring Whites back among non-league’s elite and clearing historic debts.

Debts that were once in the region of £250,000 have now almost been completely cleared and, after two failed attempts at bouncing back to the Premier Division, the club decided to seek a new manager.

New Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler played for Watford, making 195 Football League appearances, scoring 11 goals, before moving for £235,000 to Gillingham in 1996, where he went on to make 273 league appearances and scoring 20 goals in a 10-year spell at the club, He finished his professional playing career with Barnet, where he made 35 league appearances.

*BS*Watch out for exclusive audio coverage of the press conference held at Crabble and interviews with Andy Hessenthaler and Jim Parmenter here on doverathletic.com*BF*

*Link1*

*Link2*

NULL

*BS*ANDY HESSENTHALER has been unveiled as Dover Athletic’s new manager.

*BF*”Hess” is a well-known name in football – having played for Watford, Gillingham, Hull and Barnet in an illustrious Football League career spanning nearly 20 years.

Andy, 41, also had a four-year spell as player-manager for the Gills, successfully keeping the club in the Championship against all the odds.

He hung up his boots from playing professional football this summer after a short spell at League Two club Barnet.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “Getting Andy to manage our side is something of a coup for us. He’s a top manager and been successful at Championship level. He is a Kent lad through and through – and we’re very excited about what Hess can bring to this club.

“He is without doubt a big name in the game – and we’re a very ambitious club.

“We have challenged Andy to get this club promoted up the divisions. We want to reach the Football League one day – that’s always been Dover Athletic’s ultimate ambition. What an achievement that would be if Andy can take us all the way.

“Hess is well up for the challenge and is very excited about it. I’ve been in contact with him several times during the past few years when we’ve tried to get him here as a player.

“We’ve spoken at great lengths about what we want to achieve at Dover Athletic and Andy can’t wait to get to work.”

*Q1*However, after two seasons at Ryman One level, everyone involved with Whites know what a tough division this is to get out of.

And Hess, who will be Dover Athletic’s 20th managerial appointment, is under no illusions how difficult winning promotion this season will be.

He has taken the position on a full-time basis and will combine his managerial duties with a commercial and community role.

Hess said: “I’m very excited about the challenge that lies ahead here at Crabble – and cannot wait to get started in helping this club get back up to where it belongs.

“Dover Athletic is a very big club and with no disrespect to other clubs should be playing at a much higher level.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and it’s going to be taking up a lot of my time this summer. It’s going to be a big job and I’m so excited to be wearing more than one hat. It’s a chance to help mould the club from top to bottom.”

Hess will be registering as a player and added: “I played 30-odd games last season in League Two at Barnet, so believe I still have something to offer.

“However, I am more focused on the managerial side of things – that is my main priority here.”

*BS*BACKGROUND FOR MEDIA

*BF*Dover Athletic – a former Conference National club – have spent two seasons in Ryman League Division One since ending a run of three relegations in four years due to a cash crisis.

*Lpic1*A new regime, headed by chairman Jim Parmenter, took over the club in January 2005 with the sole aim of restoring Whites back among non-league’s elite and clearing historic debts.

Debts that were once in the region of £250,000 have now almost been completely cleared and, after two failed attempts at bouncing back to the Premier Division, the club decided to seek a new manager.

New Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler played for Watford, making 195 Football League appearances, scoring 11 goals, before moving for £235,000 to Gillingham in 1996, where he went on to make 273 league appearances and scoring 20 goals in a 10-year spell at the club, He finished his professional playing career with Barnet, where he made 35 league appearances.

*BS*Watch out for exclusive audio coverage of the press conference held at Crabble and interviews with Andy Hessenthaler and Jim Parmenter here on doverathletic.com*BF*

*Link1*

*Link2*