*BS*JERAHL HUGHES has left Dover Athletic by mutual consent after travelling issues took their toll on the young winger.

*BF*Hughes was something of an impact player from the bench during our Ryman League Premier Division title-winning season.

But travelling from his home in Brighton was becoming a huge problem for Hughes, who missed several training sessions and failed to show for the home match with Chelmsford on Saturday.

Boss Andy Hessenthaler said: “We’ve decided things weren’t working out. The kid was finding the travelling difficult and we need players who are absolutely 100 per cent committed to the cause.

“Missing training sessions is not something we can allow. Nor can we allow players to not show for games.

“The lad didn’t get to the game against Chelmsford on Saturday – and I only got a text from him at 1.30pm.

“I know the journey from Brighton was difficult for him and he was having a few personal problems – so we’ve both decided that it’s best for him to seek pastures new.

“He is a talented player but at the end of the day we need everyone 100 per cent committed.”

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*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC now has everything in place to make a bid for Football League status – after the FA gave the club’s Crabble stadium an A-grade.

*BF*Delighted chairman Jim Parmenter – who has always stated that his ambition is to lead the Whites into the Blue Square Premier and then League Two – said: “This is the icing on the cake for us and an early Christmas present.

“We’ve all worked hard to get the club back up the divisions and now we believe we have a good platform to build further. It’s our intention to return to the Blue Square Premier and have a chance at trying to realise the ultimate ambition of giving Kent a second Football League club.”

The board has made significant investment in the facilities at Crabble during the past couple of years.

A brand new clubhouse, plush VIP and sponsors’ lounge, new floodlights, upgraded turnstiles, a matchday control room and many more improvements have been made to make the A-grading happen.

The club has also installed a new PA system, complete safety lighting system around entire stadium, new fire alarm systems, dressing room improvements, crowd toilets, improved plumbing, refurbished irrigation, refurbished turnstiles, new fire escapes, roof water recycling for irrigation and a seat replacement and refurbishment programme.

Jim said: “We have our house in order now. It’s just a case of winning the matches to achieve our status, without the worry of needing to upgrade the ground.

“Crabble is a ground we’re very proud of. We believe it’s a nice environment for our supporters, is safe, has good facilities, an excellent playing surface and somewhere which can host a higher standard of football.

“Many clubs would be envious of our facilities. And to have the A-grade at this stage of Dover Athletic’s development is a big honour for us.”

Long-standing Whites fans will remember the heartache of missing out on promotion to the Conference after winning the Southern League title in 1990 due to ground-grading issues.

But Jim added: “This is not something we have to worry about now. Success on the field will be rewarded.”

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC now has everything in place to make a bid for Football League status – after the FA gave the club’s Crabble stadium an A-grade.

*BF*Delighted chairman Jim Parmenter – who has always stated that his ambition is to lead the Whites into the Blue Square Premier and then League Two – said: “This is the icing on the cake for us and an early Christmas present.

“We’ve all worked hard to get the club back up the divisions and now we believe we have a good platform to build further. It’s our intention to return to the Blue Square Premier and have a chance at trying to realise the ultimate ambition of giving Kent a second Football League club.”

The board has made significant investment in the facilities at Crabble during the past couple of years.

A brand new clubhouse, plush VIP and sponsors’ lounge, new floodlights, upgraded turnstiles, a matchday control room and many more improvements have been made to make the A-grading happen.

The club has also installed a new PA system, complete safety lighting system around entire stadium, new fire alarm systems, dressing room improvements, crowd toilets, improved plumbing, refurbished irrigation, refurbished turnstiles, new fire escapes, roof water recycling for irrigation and a seat replacement and refurbishment programme.

Jim said: “We have our house in order now. It’s just a case of winning the matches to achieve our status, without the worry of needing to upgrade the ground.

“Crabble is a ground we’re very proud of. We believe it’s a nice environment for our supporters, is safe, has good facilities, an excellent playing surface and somewhere which can host a higher standard of football.

“Many clubs would be envious of our facilities. And to have the A-grade at this stage of Dover Athletic’s development is a big honour for us.”

Long-standing Whites fans will remember the heartache of missing out on promotion to the Conference after winning the Southern League title in 1990 due to ground-grading issues.

But Jim added: “This is not something we have to worry about now. Success on the field will be rewarded.”

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC boss Andy Hessenthaler says his aim now is to qualify for the end-of-season Blue Square South play-off lottery.*BF*

The Whites were held to a 1-1 draw by St Albans City at the weekend, the only non-league game to be staged in Kent due to the wintry conditions, and go into Christmas period sitting in second place in the table.

However, league leaders Newport County scored late to seal a 1-0 win over FA Cup heroes Staines Town, and are now 12 points clear of the Kent side, with a game in hand.

Hessenthaler takes his side across the border to struggling Lewes on Boxing Day, and admits that winning the title, at present, is out of the question due to the Welsh side’s form.

“We’ve got to go to Lewes and win now,” Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent. “We’re six games unbeaten now and we’ve got to get three points.

“We may be able to forget about St Albans if we get three points there then we play Chelmsford (at home on 28 December) and then Lewes again (1 January). If we can go unbeaten over Christmas, I’d be delighted with that.”

He added: “Newport, now, are looking really, really strong, they’re not slipping up. It’s a battle for those play-off places. There’s still a lot of football to be played yet.

“Our aim was to get into the play-off’s at the start of the season. We’ve got two promotions, it’s a club that is on the way up.

“We haven’t been in the Conference for quite a few years now so we’re in the Conference South at the moment so our aim was to get into the play-off’s this year and I do believe that will be the case.

“We’ve just got to keep going. If we can go on a decent run of not being beat – and we’re in the FA Trophy as well, which is going to be a tough game – hopefully we can get players back after Christmas.”

Meanwhile, Lewes manager Steve Ibbitson has announced that the east Sussex club – second-from-bottom in Blue Square South – have re-signed Jean-Michel Sigere, following his release from Tonbridge Angels last week.

The Martinique born striker, 32, who arrived at Longmead Stadium in July, spent most of the season on the bench, due to Tommy Warrilow keeping faith with the strike partnership of Carl Rook and Paul Booth.

“Christmas has come early for Rooks fans following the shock return of Lewes legend Jean-Michel Sigere to the Dripping Pan,” said a Lewes statement.

Quotes courtesy of BBC Radio Kent: *Link1*

*IS*Article by Stephen McCartney on Kentishfootball.co.uk: *Link2**IF*

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC boss Andy Hessenthaler says his aim now is to qualify for the end-of-season Blue Square South play-off lottery.*BF*

The Whites were held to a 1-1 draw by St Albans City at the weekend, the only non-league game to be staged in Kent due to the wintry conditions, and go into Christmas period sitting in second place in the table.

However, league leaders Newport County scored late to seal a 1-0 win over FA Cup heroes Staines Town, and are now 12 points clear of the Kent side, with a game in hand.

Hessenthaler takes his side across the border to struggling Lewes on Boxing Day, and admits that winning the title, at present, is out of the question due to the Welsh side’s form.

“We’ve got to go to Lewes and win now,” Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent. “We’re six games unbeaten now and we’ve got to get three points.

“We may be able to forget about St Albans if we get three points there then we play Chelmsford (at home on 28 December) and then Lewes again (1 January). If we can go unbeaten over Christmas, I’d be delighted with that.”

He added: “Newport, now, are looking really, really strong, they’re not slipping up. It’s a battle for those play-off places. There’s still a lot of football to be played yet.

“Our aim was to get into the play-off’s at the start of the season. We’ve got two promotions, it’s a club that is on the way up.

“We haven’t been in the Conference for quite a few years now so we’re in the Conference South at the moment so our aim was to get into the play-off’s this year and I do believe that will be the case.

“We’ve just got to keep going. If we can go on a decent run of not being beat – and we’re in the FA Trophy as well, which is going to be a tough game – hopefully we can get players back after Christmas.”

Meanwhile, Lewes manager Steve Ibbitson has announced that the east Sussex club – second-from-bottom in Blue Square South – have re-signed Jean-Michel Sigere, following his release from Tonbridge Angels last week.

The Martinique born striker, 32, who arrived at Longmead Stadium in July, spent most of the season on the bench, due to Tommy Warrilow keeping faith with the strike partnership of Carl Rook and Paul Booth.

“Christmas has come early for Rooks fans following the shock return of Lewes legend Jean-Michel Sigere to the Dripping Pan,” said a Lewes statement.

Quotes courtesy of BBC Radio Kent: *Link1*

*IS*Article by Stephen McCartney on Kentishfootball.co.uk: *Link2**IF*

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*BS*2ND £100*BF* NIKKI SIMKISS 4121
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