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CLIVE WALKER admits he is still keeping his fingers crossed that he will be able to bring in a top-quality creative midfielder next week.

The Whites boss concedes his team is lacking that extra quality to open teams up and create chances.

But his search for a player with the attributes needed has not been easy. The club’s status as a Ryman One outfit makes it difficult to attract this type of player and wages are a problem.

However Clive has enquired about a midfield player that he is 100 per cent confident will “open up opposition defences for fun”.

The Whites boss exclusively revealed to supporters at last Thursday’s club open evening that he had one player in mind.

He told doverathletic.com: “The lad is currently at another club and we can’t talk too much about him because it’s someone that other teams would like to sign too. He is a player who would pass players for fun, he’s that good.

“I’d love to get him down to Crabble because he’d really excite the fans and, more importantly, open opponents up, so we can get the ball around our strikers.”

Clive is not sure if the deal will happen. First, the club he is playing for now will need to allow the move to happen and then the player himself needs to agree to the deal.

Jimmy Dryden is making some progress in his bid to get match-fit, although Clive believes it is unlikely that the prolific striker will be ready in time to start against Met Police on Saturday.

He said: “His knee is still swelling. There’s probably still some crap in there that needs to clear up. Once that swelling is down, he can get himself fully fit.

“Jimmy’s kicking the ball and running now, which is good. But it’s very different to being in a match, putting tackles in, turning, jumping up for headers and so on. We want to be sure that he is right before putting him into the team.”

But Clive is armed with two other prolific top-rate strikers in Craig Wilkins and Kevin Cooper, who impressed at Lymington and New Milton despite not scoring.

He said: “Kevin could’ve had a hat-trick in all honesty. He was lively, looked sharp and will have been disappointed not to have got on the scoresheet.

“One thing Kevin can do is score goals. He’s been doing it all through his career and I like the look of him. We just need to make sure we get the ball around him.”

The Whites boss reckons his team need to win 13 out of their last 15 matches to stand any chance of automatic promotion. But his only thoughts now are on the team winning matches – after drawing 10 of them this season. If his side need the play-offs to gain promotion, then so be it.

He said: “I don’t think the situation is drastic. We’re not far away from winning matches every week. We’ve got ourselves into a drawing habit. This team needs to go and smack a few goals in and maybe we’re going to be a bit more gun-ho in the run-in because draws are no good to us now.

“I don’t like going gun-ho because you can get beat more easily – but that’s what we’re have to do now. The last 15 games are going to be like cup matches.”

CLIVE WALKER admits he is still keeping his fingers crossed that he will be able to bring in a top-quality creative midfielder next week.

The Whites boss concedes his team is lacking that extra quality to open teams up and create chances.

But his search for a player with the attributes needed has not been easy. The club’s status as a Ryman One outfit makes it difficult to attract this type of player and wages are a problem.

However Clive has enquired about a midfield player that he is 100 per cent confident will “open up opposition defences for fun”.

The Whites boss exclusively revealed to supporters at last Thursday’s club open evening that he had one player in mind.

He told doverathletic.com: “The lad is currently at another club and we can’t talk too much about him because it’s someone that other teams would like to sign too. He is a player who would pass players for fun, he’s that good.

“I’d love to get him down to Crabble because he’d really excite the fans and, more importantly, open opponents up, so we can get the ball around our strikers.”

Clive is not sure if the deal will happen. First, the club he is playing for now will need to allow the move to happen and then the player himself needs to agree to the deal.

Jimmy Dryden is making some progress in his bid to get match-fit, although Clive believes it is unlikely that the prolific striker will be ready in time to start against Met Police on Saturday.

He said: “His knee is still swelling. There’s probably still some crap in there that needs to clear up. Once that swelling is down, he can get himself fully fit.

“Jimmy’s kicking the ball and running now, which is good. But it’s very different to being in a match, putting tackles in, turning, jumping up for headers and so on. We want to be sure that he is right before putting him into the team.”

But Clive is armed with two other prolific top-rate strikers in Craig Wilkins and Kevin Cooper, who impressed at Lymington and New Milton despite not scoring.

He said: “Kevin could’ve had a hat-trick in all honesty. He was lively, looked sharp and will have been disappointed not to have got on the scoresheet.

“One thing Kevin can do is score goals. He’s been doing it all through his career and I like the look of him. We just need to make sure we get the ball around him.”

The Whites boss reckons his team need to win 13 out of their last 15 matches to stand any chance of automatic promotion. But his only thoughts now are on the team winning matches – after drawing 10 of them this season. If his side need the play-offs to gain promotion, then so be it.

He said: “I don’t think the situation is drastic. We’re not far away from winning matches every week. We’ve got ourselves into a drawing habit. This team needs to go and smack a few goals in and maybe we’re going to be a bit more gun-ho in the run-in because draws are no good to us now.

“I don’t like going gun-ho because you can get beat more easily – but that’s what we’re have to do now. The last 15 games are going to be like cup matches.”

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JIMMY DRYDEN is in contention to be on the subs bench for Saturday’s trip to Lymington and New Milton.

The prolific Whites striker has completed intensive daily physiotherapy on his injured knee and returns to training tomorrow (Thursday).

Although it is touch-and-go whether he will be included among the substitutes for the trip to the New Forest, the fact he is in with a chance is a superb boost to manager Clive Walker and his Dover team.

Jimmy said: “I’m just so pleased to see light at the end of the tunnel. I’m gutted to have got my Dover career off to a bad start like this but now I just want to repay the fans, chairman and Clive. I’m raring to go

“We’re going to test the knee in training and then take it from there. I’ve got to build up fitness and I’m certainly targeting to return for the Met Police game at home a week Saturday. Although there is a chance of being on the bench this weekend.

“I want to get back into the team and help fire us out of this division. Dover Athletic deserve to be at a higher level and we’ve got to work our socks off to do it. We can achieve promotion, I’m confident of that, but we need to sort out our goalscoring problem. That’s why I am here and, when fit, I will score goals.”

Kevin Cooper’s arrival from Met Police on Monday means Whites now have two in-form goalscorers at the club. Kevin’s 19 goals this season makes him Ryman One’s leading goalscorer. Jimmy has scored 21 goals this season, 19 of them in the Premier Division for Folkestone Invicta.

Now Jimmy is challenging Kevin to a goalscoring competition, which he hopes can only benefit Whites in the run-in.

He said: “I am two ahead of him at the moment. Let’s see which one of us ends up with the most goals this season. Winning is the most important thing but if the two of us can hit the net for Dover then that can only be good.”

Jimmy reckons the biggest problem during the club’s sticky spell has been the amount of games drawn and the lack of players getting forward. But he is confident of not only getting on the end of crosses and passes, he can carve out chances too.

He said: “Some of the lads perhaps haven’t been brave enough in the box. Forwards and some of the other boys need to get right in there, which is what I like to do.

“It’s good that we’ve gone out and signed another striker because that not only gives the club competition for places, it gives Clive more options.”

Jimmy has urged fans to get behind Clive and the team as they enter the business end of the season.

He said: “Clive is a great manager and he’s been so unlucky with injuries. Obviously, mine was a huge blow – and no-one can hold him responsible for that, or any of the other setbacks we’ve had to suffer. It really does have a major effect on a team’s performances and form.

“I’m a Dover lad and want to get promoted. Everyone needs to pull together now – we should all be in this together, starting now until the end of the season. We need the fans’ support, and need to work hard, and it will help us.”

JIMMY DRYDEN is in contention to be on the subs bench for Saturday’s trip to Lymington and New Milton.

The prolific Whites striker has completed intensive daily physiotherapy on his injured knee and returns to training tomorrow (Thursday).

Although it is touch-and-go whether he will be included among the substitutes for the trip to the New Forest, the fact he is in with a chance is a superb boost to manager Clive Walker and his Dover team.

Jimmy said: “I’m just so pleased to see light at the end of the tunnel. I’m gutted to have got my Dover career off to a bad start like this but now I just want to repay the fans, chairman and Clive. I’m raring to go

“We’re going to test the knee in training and then take it from there. I’ve got to build up fitness and I’m certainly targeting to return for the Met Police game at home a week Saturday. Although there is a chance of being on the bench this weekend.

“I want to get back into the team and help fire us out of this division. Dover Athletic deserve to be at a higher level and we’ve got to work our socks off to do it. We can achieve promotion, I’m confident of that, but we need to sort out our goalscoring problem. That’s why I am here and, when fit, I will score goals.”

Kevin Cooper’s arrival from Met Police on Monday means Whites now have two in-form goalscorers at the club. Kevin’s 19 goals this season makes him Ryman One’s leading goalscorer. Jimmy has scored 21 goals this season, 19 of them in the Premier Division for Folkestone Invicta.

Now Jimmy is challenging Kevin to a goalscoring competition, which he hopes can only benefit Whites in the run-in.

He said: “I am two ahead of him at the moment. Let’s see which one of us ends up with the most goals this season. Winning is the most important thing but if the two of us can hit the net for Dover then that can only be good.”

Jimmy reckons the biggest problem during the club’s sticky spell has been the amount of games drawn and the lack of players getting forward. But he is confident of not only getting on the end of crosses and passes, he can carve out chances too.

He said: “Some of the lads perhaps haven’t been brave enough in the box. Forwards and some of the other boys need to get right in there, which is what I like to do.

“It’s good that we’ve gone out and signed another striker because that not only gives the club competition for places, it gives Clive more options.”

Jimmy has urged fans to get behind Clive and the team as they enter the business end of the season.

He said: “Clive is a great manager and he’s been so unlucky with injuries. Obviously, mine was a huge blow – and no-one can hold him responsible for that, or any of the other setbacks we’ve had to suffer. It really does have a major effect on a team’s performances and form.

“I’m a Dover lad and want to get promoted. Everyone needs to pull together now – we should all be in this together, starting now until the end of the season. We need the fans’ support, and need to work hard, and it will help us.”

Dover Athletic have signed prolific striker Kevin Cooper from Metropolitan Police.

Whites chairman Jim Parmenter wrapped up the deal on Sunday and Cooper goes straight into the squad for our Ryman One match against Cray Wanderers at Bromley FC tomorrow (Tuesday). He will be hoping to celebrate his 31st birthday in style.

Jim said: “It’s very clear that goalscoring is a huge problem for us at the moment and we feel that Kevin can help us solve our goals shortage.

“Kevin scored a hat-trick for Met Police on Saturday and he has certainly shown this season that he knows where the goal is.”

Along with 20 goals in the league so far this season, Cooper also found the net frequently in previous seasons for Met Police and AFC Wimbledon, where he is still the club’s record goalscorer after an avalanche of goals in the Combined Counties League.

In 2003-2004 season he scored 66 goals in 48 games, firing Wimbledon to the league title in an unbeaten season. His overall record for the Dons is 107 goals in 97 matches.

Kevin has signed until the end of the season.

We hope to bring you an interview with Kevin in the next couple of days.

Photograph courtesy of afcwimbledon.com.

Dover Athletic have signed prolific striker Kevin Cooper from Metropolitan Police.

Whites chairman Jim Parmenter wrapped up the deal on Sunday and Cooper goes straight into the squad for our Ryman One match against Cray Wanderers at Bromley FC tomorrow (Tuesday). He will be hoping to celebrate his 31st birthday in style.

Jim said: “It’s very clear that goalscoring is a huge problem for us at the moment and we feel that Kevin can help us solve our goals shortage.

“Kevin scored a hat-trick for Met Police on Saturday and he has certainly shown this season that he knows where the goal is.”

Along with 20 goals in the league so far this season, Cooper also found the net frequently in previous seasons for Met Police and AFC Wimbledon, where he is still the club’s record goalscorer after an avalanche of goals in the Combined Counties League.

In 2003-2004 season he scored 66 goals in 48 games, firing Wimbledon to the league title in an unbeaten season. His overall record for the Dons is 107 goals in 97 matches.

Kevin has signed until the end of the season.

We hope to bring you an interview with Kevin in the next couple of days.

Photograph courtesy of afcwimbledon.com.