DOVER ATHLETIC have completed the treble – securing the services of THREE new players in one swoop.

Former River End favourites Tony Browne, Lee Spiller and Tommy Tyne are all rejoining the club after one season at Welling and complete manager Clive Walker’s signings for next season.

Going in the opposite direction as part of the deal is winger Matt Carruthers.

Chairman Jim Parmenter will be holding a press conference at Crabble at 11am this morning (Saturday) where defender Browne and midfielder Spiller will sign two-year contracts. Tyne will also sign once he returns from his holiday after also agreeing to the same deal.

Tyne, 24, and Browne, 28, both played for Whites in the Conference and, along with Spiller, 26, were part of Clive’s team that reached the first round proper for the first time in the club’s history and finished third in the Dr Martens League Premier Division in 2002-03.

Jim said: “These three players were top of Clive’s summer transfer targets and we’re delighted to have secured their services for next season.

“They want to work hard for this club and help us achieve our target of winning the Ryman League Division One title next season and to then get us promoted the following season into Conference South. They have the very qualities Clive and I are looking for and it’s a superb boost to what is already a very talented squad of players.

“We are sorry to see Matt Carruthers leave. Ideally, we’d have liked to keep him here but we have to stick to a budget. The deal is fantastic business for Dover Athletic. We get three very good players for one. It really was a no-brainer and everyone at the club cannot wait for the new season to start.”

Spiller, who used to play for Margate and Gravesend, was released along with Browne 12 months ago and insists he was always going to return to Dover once the opportunity presented itself.

He said: “The three of us never wanted to leave the club in the first place. Tommy left before the season finished and we were released in the close season. Mick Kemp, the chairman then, said we had to move on and that was a shame, because we wanted to stay.

“We cannot believe that the club has dropped down to Ryman One and desperately want to help the club get back to at least Conference South.

“One of the main reasons for us wanting to come back is Clive Walker. He is a top coach and has so much experience, both as a player and manager. He is a winner and, although we’re dropping two leagues to come here, we believe that Clive can improve us as players.

“It’s important the young lads in the squad don’t get complacent. We’ve got a bit of experience and aim to help the youngsters through. I think we’ve got a good mixture of youth and experience in the side and we’re determined to win that Ryman One title next season. We’re a big club and should be playing at a higher level.”

Browne cannot wait to renew his special relationship with the Whites faithful. He has a good rapport with Dover fans and wants to do the business for them.

He said: “Dover are a huge club and get amazing support. I’ve always got on well with the fans here. Hopefully, we can put a few smiles on their faces by helping the team win enough matches to get promoted.

“I’m going to give 100 per cent to Dover and am really up for this. There are some good players in Ryman One so it’s not going to be that easy – but if we put in the hard work that Clive demands then we’ll have a very good chance of getting Dover back up the divisions.

“Jim Parmenter has done a good job since returning to the club and it’s important to have a proper businessman running the show. No disrespect to the former regime, because I’m sure they did their very best, but the set-up at the club now is much more professional than it was when we left.

“The chairman is a football man – and understands how clubs are run. He is ambitious and, with Clive running the team, it’s a good match.”

Browne, who is just finishing a three-year sports science course in South West London, cannot wait to link up with some of his former team-mates such as Craig Wilkins, Paul Hyde, Craig Cloke, Nicky Humphrey and co.

He said: “There’s definitely a good side there. I think with me, Lee and Tommy returning, it gives Clive an extra player in every area of the field. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Welling boss Adrian Pennock said: “These three lads are players I’m reluctantly letting go. The board have asked me to cut the wage bill – so I had no choice. I’m just happy to get Matt Carruthers in exchange, he’s a good player – a matchwinner on his day.

“I know Clive very well and we speak regularly. He asked me a while ago about players and it came up that these lads would be available – so I enquired about Matt and things moved on from there.”

Carruthers, a Whites fan himself, is sorry to be leaving but is excited by the new challenge of playing for Welling.

He said: “It was a tough decision and the ball ended up in my court. If I agreed to go, Dover get three players. If I stayed, then nothing would’ve happened. So there was a bit of pressure there but I’ve thought long and hard about it and decided this is a good deal for all parties.

“I get a new challenge and play in Conference South, Dover get three very good new players which will help them win the league next season and Welling achieve what they want.

“The Dover fans have been great and, who knows, I might be back one day.”

Clive added: “Matt has been a good player for us but this deal was too good to turn down. I want players at this club that I know will do the business and, in Lee, Tony and Tommy, we have. It’s going to be a tough season coming up but we now have a very strong squad to cope with it.”

Dover Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter agreed to answer all questions posed by fans via this website last week and here are the answers he has given to the questions you e-mailed to us in the last seven days.

Callum Snell asks: Are we aiming for an instant promotion back to the Premier Division? Are we aiming for the championship or play-offs?

Also I’d like to ask if there is going to be a new kit for next season?

Jim Parmenter: We are aiming for promotion as an absolute minimum but our real target will be to win the league.

We are currently negotiating with a new sponsor. Depending on the requirements, we will announce our intentions as soon as possible. If there is sufficient time, we’ll consider a fans’ poll to help decide the final design.

Luke Dilnot-Smith: Will a qualified assistant-manager be brought in to assist Clive and continue the progress being made to achieve a more professional set up at the club?

JP: Steve Nolan has been appointed already and I am delighted by this. He is a first-class coach and will provide an excellent foil for Clive.

Harry Reid: Paul Hyde has given Dover loyal service and, while sometimes he has been controversial, his commitment to the club has always been 100 per cent. I understand when you say you cannot come to an agreement on a contract but it all appears to be so final with a capital F.

The true fans have always appreciated his loyalty to the club so my question is this, is there any way there can be a good testimonial for him so that the fans can say goodbye to Hydie in style?

JP: Unfortunately, Paul could not agree terms with the club and that is a great pity. We’ll consider the testimonial issue during the course of the summer.

John Moorhouse: Who will be taking care of first-team affairs while Clive is away doing his coaching scheme in the USA?

And what happens, if Clive has one or more possible transfer targets that he can’t get hold of before he goes away? Will someone else do the negotiations and scouting?

JP: As chairman, I thought I’d emulate my predecessor and do it myself. Only joking!!!! Steve Nolan will take care of team affairs but I will handle any contract negotiation required although we hope to have most matters in place by the time Clive goes.

Martin Pearce: How do you view the increased expenditure on the reserve team that was part of the last board’s plans for the club in the light of our successive relegation?

The possibility was discussed on the fans forum recently of training being held in the north of the county, this was to possibly help attract players from the London area by reducing the travelling involved. What is the club’s view on this?

JP: We will be continuing to run the club on sensible financial grounds. Although the reserves have been promoted, their costs will have to be reduced or sponsored.

We are currently looking for a site to train at once a week in the north of the county. Also facilities in Dover generally are pretty poor. Part of our business plan will be to try and provide extra facilities in conjunction with the council.

Martin Pearce again: Great news that the new lights are on the way. How do the running costs compare with our current lights?

JP: These are state-of-the-art lamps from Thorn. The running costs should be less because of much increased efficiency.

Riverend White has three questions: Where has the money come from to carry out the work on the floodlights?

Do you feel that we are better equipped to move back up through the leagues than Margate (bigger fanbase, better ground, etc)?

Would you put your neck on the line and say that Clive will put together a squad which will win whatever league the authorities eventually decide we will be playing in next season?

JP: The floodlights are sponsored by a well-wisher.

Dover are without doubt potentially a much bigger club than Margate for the reasons you mention and others. However, Dover Athletic have dropped a long way in three years and, at the moment, I think their playing squad is marginally stronger than ours. We need to change this.

I have already said promotion is the absolute minimum target. If we didn’t think Clive could do it, we’d not have appointed him as manager.

Martin Pearce: I’m pleased that the club have appointed a assistant manager. Was the decision to appoint him at Clive’s request or did the board feel the job required two people?

JP: Clive insisted on it. He wanted someone to assist and provide an alternative eye.

Luke Dilnot-Smith: What does Jim most enjoy about running a club?

JP: By running a stable club, we create a feeling of belonging and pride in the fans and the town in general. You cannot replicate the feeling of joy on the fans faces when we are doing well. Apart from that, winning!

Dover Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter agreed to answer all questions posed by fans via this website last week and here are the answers he has given to the questions you e-mailed to us in the last seven days.

Callum Snell asks: Are we aiming for an instant promotion back to the Premier Division? Are we aiming for the championship or play-offs?

Also I’d like to ask if there is going to be a new kit for next season?

Jim Parmenter: We are aiming for promotion as an absolute minimum but our real target will be to win the league.

We are currently negotiating with a new sponsor. Depending on the requirements, we will announce our intentions as soon as possible. If there is sufficient time, we’ll consider a fans’ poll to help decide the final design.

Luke Dilnot-Smith: Will a qualified assistant-manager be brought in to assist Clive and continue the progress being made to achieve a more professional set up at the club?

JP: Steve Nolan has been appointed already and I am delighted by this. He is a first-class coach and will provide an excellent foil for Clive.

Harry Reid: Paul Hyde has given Dover loyal service and, while sometimes he has been controversial, his commitment to the club has always been 100 per cent. I understand when you say you cannot come to an agreement on a contract but it all appears to be so final with a capital F.

The true fans have always appreciated his loyalty to the club so my question is this, is there any way there can be a good testimonial for him so that the fans can say goodbye to Hydie in style?

JP: Unfortunately, Paul could not agree terms with the club and that is a great pity. We’ll consider the testimonial issue during the course of the summer.

John Moorhouse: Who will be taking care of first-team affairs while Clive is away doing his coaching scheme in the USA?

And what happens, if Clive has one or more possible transfer targets that he can’t get hold of before he goes away? Will someone else do the negotiations and scouting?

JP: As chairman, I thought I’d emulate my predecessor and do it myself. Only joking!!!! Steve Nolan will take care of team affairs but I will handle any contract negotiation required although we hope to have most matters in place by the time Clive goes.

Martin Pearce: How do you view the increased expenditure on the reserve team that was part of the last board’s plans for the club in the light of our successive relegation?

The possibility was discussed on the fans forum recently of training being held in the north of the county, this was to possibly help attract players from the London area by reducing the travelling involved. What is the club’s view on this?

JP: We will be continuing to run the club on sensible financial grounds. Although the reserves have been promoted, their costs will have to be reduced or sponsored.

We are currently looking for a site to train at once a week in the north of the county. Also facilities in Dover generally are pretty poor. Part of our business plan will be to try and provide extra facilities in conjunction with the council.

Martin Pearce again: Great news that the new lights are on the way. How do the running costs compare with our current lights?

JP: These are state-of-the-art lamps from Thorn. The running costs should be less because of much increased efficiency.

Riverend White has three questions: Where has the money come from to carry out the work on the floodlights?

Do you feel that we are better equipped to move back up through the leagues than Margate (bigger fanbase, better ground, etc)?

Would you put your neck on the line and say that Clive will put together a squad which will win whatever league the authorities eventually decide we will be playing in next season?

JP: The floodlights are sponsored by a well-wisher.

Dover are without doubt potentially a much bigger club than Margate for the reasons you mention and others. However, Dover Athletic have dropped a long way in three years and, at the moment, I think their playing squad is marginally stronger than ours. We need to change this.

I have already said promotion is the absolute minimum target. If we didn’t think Clive could do it, we’d not have appointed him as manager.

Martin Pearce: I’m pleased that the club have appointed a assistant manager. Was the decision to appoint him at Clive’s request or did the board feel the job required two people?

JP: Clive insisted on it. He wanted someone to assist and provide an alternative eye.

Luke Dilnot-Smith: What does Jim most enjoy about running a club?

JP: By running a stable club, we create a feeling of belonging and pride in the fans and the town in general. You cannot replicate the feeling of joy on the fans faces when we are doing well. Apart from that, winning!

JIM PARMENTER cannot wait for Sunday to arrive – so he can start talking to players he hopes will sign for Dover next season.

Many players are out of contract after May 7 and manager Clive Walker has already given his list of targets to the Whites chairman.

Jim said: “I can safely say that fans can expect some good news this summer. We will be strengthening the squad in all areas and hope to add some experience to the excellent young pool of players we currently have.

“Obviously I cannot mention what targets we have because players are still under contract to their current clubs but we will be in a position to talk to them from Sunday onwards.”

Jim cannot believe some of the messages he has been reading from some supporters on this site’s fans forum – following our 2-1 Kent Senior Cup Final defeat to Conference South club Margate on Bank Holiday Monday.

He said: “Some fans are criticising players and I think it is a bit out of line. Every young player who we’ve signed deserve their contract and are players that Clive and myself believe are good enough to be involved in a championship-winning side in Ryman One next season.

“Young players can improve and of course they lack experience but to write some of them off is plain silly. We’ll be adding experience to the squad because we are under no illusions that you need that.

“However, it must be remembered that Clive has improved the current squad no end since he arrived in January and our form was that of a side chasing a play-off place. So how can some fans suggest the current squad is not good enough?”

Craig Cloke has signed a TWO-YEAR deal, keeping him at the club until May 2007. Clokey, who has completed the Quad at the Player of the Year Awards, after he was also named Website Player of the Year yesterday, was contracted next season already.

Yet the club offered him a one-year extension and that is being signed today.

Meanwhile, Jim said that keeper Paul Hyde is leaving the club after failing to agree personal terms.

He said: “We offered Victor Renner and Paul Hyde deals and the deadline has now passed – so we move on and look at other players.

“Narada Bernard is a player we would love to sign and he has promised to give us an answer tomorrow (Wednesday).”

Dover Athletic are delighted to announce that Steve Nolan is re-joining the club to become Clive Walker’s assistant manager.

Nolan coached the Dover Athletic reserve side a few years ago but left for Sittingbourne, where he had a stint as manager this season.

JIM PARMENTER cannot wait for Sunday to arrive – so he can start talking to players he hopes will sign for Dover next season.

Many players are out of contract after May 7 and manager Clive Walker has already given his list of targets to the Whites chairman.

Jim said: “I can safely say that fans can expect some good news this summer. We will be strengthening the squad in all areas and hope to add some experience to the excellent young pool of players we currently have.

“Obviously I cannot mention what targets we have because players are still under contract to their current clubs but we will be in a position to talk to them from Sunday onwards.”

Jim cannot believe some of the messages he has been reading from some supporters on this site’s fans forum – following our 2-1 Kent Senior Cup Final defeat to Conference South club Margate on Bank Holiday Monday.

He said: “Some fans are criticising players and I think it is a bit out of line. Every young player who we’ve signed deserve their contract and are players that Clive and myself believe are good enough to be involved in a championship-winning side in Ryman One next season.

“Young players can improve and of course they lack experience but to write some of them off is plain silly. We’ll be adding experience to the squad because we are under no illusions that you need that.

“However, it must be remembered that Clive has improved the current squad no end since he arrived in January and our form was that of a side chasing a play-off place. So how can some fans suggest the current squad is not good enough?”

Craig Cloke has signed a TWO-YEAR deal, keeping him at the club until May 2007. Clokey, who has completed the Quad at the Player of the Year Awards, after he was also named Website Player of the Year yesterday, was contracted next season already.

Yet the club offered him a one-year extension and that is being signed today.

Meanwhile, Jim said that keeper Paul Hyde is leaving the club after failing to agree personal terms.

He said: “We offered Victor Renner and Paul Hyde deals and the deadline has now passed – so we move on and look at other players.

“Narada Bernard is a player we would love to sign and he has promised to give us an answer tomorrow (Wednesday).”

Dover Athletic are delighted to announce that Steve Nolan is re-joining the club to become Clive Walker’s assistant manager.

Nolan coached the Dover Athletic reserve side a few years ago but left for Sittingbourne, where he had a stint as manager this season.

DOVER ATHLETIC have WON silverware – after Gary Whittle’s talented young reserve side beat Tonbridge Angels 3-2 in the Kent Intermediate Cup final at the Hoverspeed Stadium.

Buster Smissen, Dale Skelton and Chris Wright made sure that Dover were victorious. Our photographer SIMON HARRIS was there to capture the celebrations at the end.

The club would like to congratulate the team on what has been a superb season.

DOVER ATHLETIC have WON silverware – after Gary Whittle’s talented young reserve side beat Tonbridge Angels 3-2 in the Kent Intermediate Cup final at the Hoverspeed Stadium.

Buster Smissen, Dale Skelton and Chris Wright made sure that Dover were victorious. Our photographer SIMON HARRIS was there to capture the celebrations at the end.

The club would like to congratulate the team on what has been a superb season.

VICTOR RENNER has a hot tip for the shrewd punter among Whites fans – get your money on him to score at Wealdstone on Saturday.

The hard-working frontman has not hit the onion bag since his superb double strike against Salisbury on February 12.

Yet, despite that, Victor has put in a number of good performances and been dubbed one of the club’s unluckiest strikers.

He seems to have a love affair with the woodwork. Whites fans have lost count of the number of times the popular Londoner has seen a shot strike a post or cannon back off the crossbar.

Victor said: “I’m thinking about asking the FA to award us a goal for every three times I hit the woodwork. I’ve not had much luck, have I?

“But I am due a goal and reckon Dover fans should get themselves down the bookies before the Wealdstone game on Saturday and have a punt on me scoring.

“I’ve got to be worth a few quid, surely? The law of averages say that one of my shots will go in sooner rather than later.

“But, seriously, one of my biggest problems is spending too much time out of the penalty box. Next season I want to be more of a Gary Lineker-type striker – being in the box to poach goals.

“I don’t have a problem playing out on the wing, because I feel I can create chances for the other lads, but, as a striker, you want to score goals. So that’s something I’d like to work on.”

Victor was brought in by former boss Steve Browne in October. While other players, such as Dean Palmer and Jude Stirling departed after Browne’s departure, the ex-Wimbledon marksman has stayed loyal to the club.

He may have scored just three goals this season but there is no doubt that he has played a key role for the team – especially since Clive Walker’s return in January.

The Whites ace was naturally gutted after the 3-2 defeat at Tonbridge, which confirmed our relegation to Ryman One, and on reflection believes had Clive taken charge a month or two earlier the club would have stayed up with little trouble.

He said: “Clive came in a bit too late to save us. Had he been in charge from the summer, I’m 100 per cent convinced we’d be fighting for promotion, not against relegation.

“Clive is my kind of manager – he’s real old school and you don’t get bosses like him in football anymore.

“I like his style of management, I like the way he does things. He’s one of those managers, if you’re not doing things right, he’ll sit you down and go through it with you.

“Not many managers at this level do that. It’s probably because other managers’ managerial skills are not up to such a high standard or have Clive’s experience to be able to tell you what to do.

“It’s nice when you get someone who appreciates you as a player or person, sits you down and helps. I’ve learned a few things from Clive. You can enjoy yourself and express yourself more with him in charge.

“He always tell us it’s important never to put up the white flag. It doesn’t matter how badly you’re playing, don’t give up. Keep working hard. If you give 100 per cent, and your best isn’t good enough, at least you can walk off the pitch with your head held high.”

Whites certainly made a fight of it and most pundits agree that to have taken the relegation scrap to the final couple of weeks was one hell of an achievement, given their hopeless-looking situation in the New Year.

Victor said: “All that hard work has ended up being in vein. It’s such a great shame. We ultimately left is so late, meaning we were relying on other teams. So had we won at Tonbridge, we’d have still been in a desperate position this weekend. Most of the other boys are gutted – because we were so close to making it.

“Personally, I’m disappointed because it’s the first time I’ve ever been relegated at any club.”

The Dover striker admits that the side have frozen in big games this season – especially against Folkestone at Easter time and during the first half at Tonbridge. Both Clive and chairman Jim Parmenter have admitted that the side perhaps lacked a bit of experience to deal with big-match pressure.

Although Victor agrees with that, he insisted that the young players in the side have been a revelation – even inspiring the more experienced members of the team.

Victor said: “You’ve got older experienced ex-League players in this division but they just turn up for the money. The kids we have at Dover, like Sam Vallance and Shane Hamshare, are going to give you 100 per cent. Big-name players, because of their reputation, are just after the pay cheque.

“But the young lads want to impress. I don’t think I’ve seen a single Dover kid pull out of a tackle and that inspires me. It lifts the team.”

And that is something that Victor knows impresses the Whites faithful. One thing that the striker has learned during his spell at the club is that supporters appreciate hard work.

He said: “When we lost on Saturday and walked off the pitch, we got a standing ovation and the Dover fans were singing. It was unreal. Despite the sinking feeling of getting relegated, all the fans stuck with us.

“They appreciated the work we’d put in. It just wasn’t enough on Saturday. We froze in the first half to be honest.

“I’ve enjoyed a good rapport with the fans here. They really are amazing. I’ve never met a group of supporters like them. As long as you give them 100 per cent, they appreciate it. And when you know they appreciate you, it makes you want to go out there and do the business for them.”

Victor has been offered a one-year deal at the Hoverspeed Stadium and is currently thinking it over. He wants to stay for next season and has no problem stepping down to Division One. He admits that he is discussing personal terms. Although he is happy with the offer, Victor needs to discuss his travel arrangements.

The hitman works in the retail trade and lives in Walthamstow, East London. Midweek training starts at 7.30pm and Victor finishes work at around 6pm, giving him 90 minutes to get out of London and down the M2 to Dover.

He said: “I’ve spoken to Clive about the contract for the past month. The situation with me is that I come from East London. Clive is understanding.

“I may change my job soon, which may make things easier. It’s not really too much of a problem because Clive has been great. He doesn’t mind if I’m late for training and has even given me a couple of nights off. But I feel a bit guilty as I like to get down 20 minutes before training so I can relax before the sessions.

“The offer I’ve received from Dover is a good one and I’ve no problems with money. I just want to come to an arrangement about my travelling because I have to pay a bit for petrol to get down. But the club do understand this and we’re talking about it.

“I’d like to stress to the fans that I definitely want to be here next season.

“Everyone thought I was going to leave when Browney left. But I really enjoy playing for Dover. It’s a big club. I get on with all the boys and the atmosphere is good. I’ve never seen anything like it to be honest. I’d love to be part of Dover’s future succcess because I can see us going on to big things. Everything is in place now.”

Finally, Victor can shed some light on the penalty re-take incident deep into injury-time at Tonbridge.

He said: “I thought it was a poor decision myself. The penalty was justified because Nicky (Humphrey) made contact with their player – we’ve no complaints about that.

“But the ref told me he ordered a re-take because Craig Wilkins had gone into the box before the kick was taken. Had it been a goal, the ref would never have ordered a re-take and plus Craig never ran into the box in the first place.

“Their guy has smashed the ball over the bar and was not distracted so I don’t think the decision was right.

“These decisions happen sometimes and one cannot dwell on it too much. Let’s just hope we get the rub of the green with future refereeing decisions.”

VICTOR RENNER has a hot tip for the shrewd punter among Whites fans – get your money on him to score at Wealdstone on Saturday.

The hard-working frontman has not hit the onion bag since his superb double strike against Salisbury on February 12.

Yet, despite that, Victor has put in a number of good performances and been dubbed one of the club’s unluckiest strikers.

He seems to have a love affair with the woodwork. Whites fans have lost count of the number of times the popular Londoner has seen a shot strike a post or cannon back off the crossbar.

Victor said: “I’m thinking about asking the FA to award us a goal for every three times I hit the woodwork. I’ve not had much luck, have I?

“But I am due a goal and reckon Dover fans should get themselves down the bookies before the Wealdstone game on Saturday and have a punt on me scoring.

“I’ve got to be worth a few quid, surely? The law of averages say that one of my shots will go in sooner rather than later.

“But, seriously, one of my biggest problems is spending too much time out of the penalty box. Next season I want to be more of a Gary Lineker-type striker – being in the box to poach goals.

“I don’t have a problem playing out on the wing, because I feel I can create chances for the other lads, but, as a striker, you want to score goals. So that’s something I’d like to work on.”

Victor was brought in by former boss Steve Browne in October. While other players, such as Dean Palmer and Jude Stirling departed after Browne’s departure, the ex-Wimbledon marksman has stayed loyal to the club.

He may have scored just three goals this season but there is no doubt that he has played a key role for the team – especially since Clive Walker’s return in January.

The Whites ace was naturally gutted after the 3-2 defeat at Tonbridge, which confirmed our relegation to Ryman One, and on reflection believes had Clive taken charge a month or two earlier the club would have stayed up with little trouble.

He said: “Clive came in a bit too late to save us. Had he been in charge from the summer, I’m 100 per cent convinced we’d be fighting for promotion, not against relegation.

“Clive is my kind of manager – he’s real old school and you don’t get bosses like him in football anymore.

“I like his style of management, I like the way he does things. He’s one of those managers, if you’re not doing things right, he’ll sit you down and go through it with you.

“Not many managers at this level do that. It’s probably because other managers’ managerial skills are not up to such a high standard or have Clive’s experience to be able to tell you what to do.

“It’s nice when you get someone who appreciates you as a player or person, sits you down and helps. I’ve learned a few things from Clive. You can enjoy yourself and express yourself more with him in charge.

“He always tell us it’s important never to put up the white flag. It doesn’t matter how badly you’re playing, don’t give up. Keep working hard. If you give 100 per cent, and your best isn’t good enough, at least you can walk off the pitch with your head held high.”

Whites certainly made a fight of it and most pundits agree that to have taken the relegation scrap to the final couple of weeks was one hell of an achievement, given their hopeless-looking situation in the New Year.

Victor said: “All that hard work has ended up being in vein. It’s such a great shame. We ultimately left is so late, meaning we were relying on other teams. So had we won at Tonbridge, we’d have still been in a desperate position this weekend. Most of the other boys are gutted – because we were so close to making it.

“Personally, I’m disappointed because it’s the first time I’ve ever been relegated at any club.”

The Dover striker admits that the side have frozen in big games this season – especially against Folkestone at Easter time and during the first half at Tonbridge. Both Clive and chairman Jim Parmenter have admitted that the side perhaps lacked a bit of experience to deal with big-match pressure.

Although Victor agrees with that, he insisted that the young players in the side have been a revelation – even inspiring the more experienced members of the team.

Victor said: “You’ve got older experienced ex-League players in this division but they just turn up for the money. The kids we have at Dover, like Sam Vallance and Shane Hamshare, are going to give you 100 per cent. Big-name players, because of their reputation, are just after the pay cheque.

“But the young lads want to impress. I don’t think I’ve seen a single Dover kid pull out of a tackle and that inspires me. It lifts the team.”

And that is something that Victor knows impresses the Whites faithful. One thing that the striker has learned during his spell at the club is that supporters appreciate hard work.

He said: “When we lost on Saturday and walked off the pitch, we got a standing ovation and the Dover fans were singing. It was unreal. Despite the sinking feeling of getting relegated, all the fans stuck with us.

“They appreciated the work we’d put in. It just wasn’t enough on Saturday. We froze in the first half to be honest.

“I’ve enjoyed a good rapport with the fans here. They really are amazing. I’ve never met a group of supporters like them. As long as you give them 100 per cent, they appreciate it. And when you know they appreciate you, it makes you want to go out there and do the business for them.”

Victor has been offered a one-year deal at the Hoverspeed Stadium and is currently thinking it over. He wants to stay for next season and has no problem stepping down to Division One. He admits that he is discussing personal terms. Although he is happy with the offer, Victor needs to discuss his travel arrangements.

The hitman works in the retail trade and lives in Walthamstow, East London. Midweek training starts at 7.30pm and Victor finishes work at around 6pm, giving him 90 minutes to get out of London and down the M2 to Dover.

He said: “I’ve spoken to Clive about the contract for the past month. The situation with me is that I come from East London. Clive is understanding.

“I may change my job soon, which may make things easier. It’s not really too much of a problem because Clive has been great. He doesn’t mind if I’m late for training and has even given me a couple of nights off. But I feel a bit guilty as I like to get down 20 minutes before training so I can relax before the sessions.

“The offer I’ve received from Dover is a good one and I’ve no problems with money. I just want to come to an arrangement about my travelling because I have to pay a bit for petrol to get down. But the club do understand this and we’re talking about it.

“I’d like to stress to the fans that I definitely want to be here next season.

“Everyone thought I was going to leave when Browney left. But I really enjoy playing for Dover. It’s a big club. I get on with all the boys and the atmosphere is good. I’ve never seen anything like it to be honest. I’d love to be part of Dover’s future succcess because I can see us going on to big things. Everything is in place now.”

Finally, Victor can shed some light on the penalty re-take incident deep into injury-time at Tonbridge.

He said: “I thought it was a poor decision myself. The penalty was justified because Nicky (Humphrey) made contact with their player – we’ve no complaints about that.

“But the ref told me he ordered a re-take because Craig Wilkins had gone into the box before the kick was taken. Had it been a goal, the ref would never have ordered a re-take and plus Craig never ran into the box in the first place.

“Their guy has smashed the ball over the bar and was not distracted so I don’t think the decision was right.

“These decisions happen sometimes and one cannot dwell on it too much. Let’s just hope we get the rub of the green with future refereeing decisions.”

CRAIG CLOKE was in tears when Whites’ fate was sealed after Saturday’s epic at Tonbridge.

Clokey – who must be odds-on favourite to scoop the Player of the Year awards this season – could not believe that his beloved home-town club had sunk to the fourth step of non-league football.

He said: “I was just in shock. This club means a lot to me. I’ve grown up either watching or playing for Dover Athletic – and it was just too much for me when the ref blew his whistle at the end.

“It brought many tears to my eyes. I remember, when I was a kid, watching David Leworthy score goals for fun for us when we were in the Conference. I remember all the big crowds and the buzz of knowing that Dover Athletic were one of the top non league clubs in the country.

“Now we’re in Ryman One – and I was just so gutted because we really believed we had a chance of pulling off a miracle escape.

“I just stood there crying and didn’t want to go back to the dressing rooms. I waited outside for a while with the Dover fans, who have been brilliant this season. Braz (Daniel Braithwaite) put his arm around me and consoled me – as I’m just a young lad.

“For me Dover Athletic means everything. I am a Dover boy and have come through the ranks. To see us drop down three divisions is heartbreaking.”

However, Clokey insists that the mood in the dressing room is a united one and the message from the players to the fans is – “We’ll be giving everything we’ve got to get Dover Athletic promoted next season.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the Whites changing room immediately after the match. The great fight was over after a brave effort since January to claw back a 15-point gap.

Ultimately, it proved too big a challenge for the young players.

Yet Clokey, who is still just 20 himself, said: “We were soon talking about next season and pre-season. The lads cannot wait for the summer and to get back into pre-season training. We want to right the wrongs of this season and give it a real good go at getting us back into the Premier Division.

“But, to be honest, we want to take the club higher than just the Premier. We want to take Dover all the way back up to where it should be, which is the Conference.”

The Whites kid has ambitions to play in the Football League but is happily committed to Dover’s cause next season. He believes his best chance of playing at the highest possible level will lie in helping Whites to promotion next season and the season after that.

Ideally, he would love to be playing Conference football with Dover in a few seasons, when he will still only be 23.

With that experience under his belt, he will be a much better player. And, although it seems a million miles away at the moment, it is possible.

He said: “There are always scouts watching, even at this level. I just want to go out there and help Dover Athletic. I am a Dover fan. If a big club comes in for me, then of course I’d have to look at it. I’d hope no-one would stand in my way but I wouldn’t just leave to go to another non-league club.

“I’d like to stay and help Dover get all the way back up the leagues. It can certainly be done and, with the board we have at the club now, it’s more possible than perhaps it was last year.

“The directors of the past regime have come in for a bit of stick but ultimately it’s us players who are responsible for the position we’re in.

“Although I must say Clive has made a big difference. He is such a legend and helped my game enormously over the years I’ve known him. He makes you work harder and go that extra yard for him. That is often the difference between winning and losing. He’s a great manager.”

Clokey was also moved by the tributes to Paul Sykes, who sadly passed away last Tuesday evening at the age of 28 after collapsing during Folkestone’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate.

The Dover fans chanted “Syko’s” name at Tonbridge throughout Saturday’s game – and that moved the Whites defender.

He said: “What happened to Syko puts everything in context. When the Dover fans were chanting his name, it really moved me. It was, I guess, a moving day all round. But Syko is a huge loss to Kent football. He was a real blood and guts kind of player and was superb.

“I knew him personally and he had a big influence on my career. When I first got into the first-team squad, Syko was here and I got to know him a bit from being on the bench with him. He used to give me many tips that would help me when I started games for the club.

“He definitely taught me a lot and the atmosphere has been a bit down this week as most of the lads knew him well. Syko was a hero at Dover and he has a lot of friends over here.

“We were all gutted when we heard about it and just hope we can make the Kent Senior Cup final against Margate a fitting memorial for him.”