Whites players started pre season training this week with Tyrone Sterling fit and raring to go after returning to Dover. ‘We did the fitness tests today and there it was great to see some of the old faces, I was made to feel really welcome again. It is such a nice environment.’

Centre half Sterling, who can also operate at left back, is looking forward to hooking up with Chris Kinnear again after a difficult relegation battle with Kent rivals Dartford, which was disrupted by injuries. ‘They are a good club, but I wanted to come here to clear my head and this is somewhere I had a good experience before. I injured my ankle last pre season that put me out for 6 weeks and every time I came back, I seemed to injure something else. I still played 38 games, but I am used to playing every game.’ He also added ‘Chris gave me my opportunity to play at a higher level, so he did not have to say anything really to lure me back, he knows I am ambitious and he is a good guy to get on with.’

The forthcoming fixtures will show Dartford as a Skrill Premier club in spite of their final position of 20th in May, as Hereford and Salisbury were shown the door by the powers that be following financial irregularities. But in spite of last season’s hardship, Sterling is confident Whites will have a stronger season than their Kent rivals. ‘We will have to pump our chests out and go for it as there are some very good teams in this league and they will punish you, but I don’t think we have anything to be worried about, we will try and finish as high as we can. We will stay up.

Former Cray man Sterling, will likely battle with Richard Orlu and Sean Raggett, who were both outstanding in the play offs, for a place at centre back. A challenge he is looking forward to. ‘Sean is a good young lad and Richard seems like a nice guy. Whoever plays will prove a good partnership.’