*BS*New Dover Athletic signing Jack Parkinson speaks to Jack O’Sullivan, explaining his reason for rejecting Football League interest to sign for the club – and outlining his ambitions for the season ahead.*BF*

Parkinson, 25, was unveiled on Thursday evening – much to the delight of Whites supporters. Having been heavily linked with a move to League Two side Leyton Orient – and The O’s putting an offer on the table – Parkinson was expected to agree terms, however Whites stepped in and sealed a deal.

He said: “I have played a couple of games for Orient in pre-season and they offered me a deal, but it didn’t feel like the right move for me. I want to be playing football and doing well in the side, and once I heard the ambitions of Dover and what they are looking to achieve I knew this was right for me.”

The ex-Maidstone United man also paid tribute to last season’s captain Connor Essam, who has recently moved to Orient: “I spoke to Connor about Dover and he spoke very highly of the club. I know a few of the boys here already – Liam Bellamy, Stefan Payne and Mitch Walker – and everyone has had only good things to say about the setup here.”

He continued: “What Dover achieved last season was incredible and it is my aim to help the club improve on that. I hope to be in contention for Saturday, I have been training full-time for the last few weeks so I feel ready. It is a long trip for us to start off with (to Barrow), but it is great to see the club approach it properly by flying up there. It is good for me, coming in from the outside, to see things are being done the right way.

“Everyone would like to play in the Football League, but that is not on my mind at the moment. I have just signed a deal with Dover and am very happy to be here. I want to have a good season, play as many games as I can and help us finish as high as we can.”