CLIVE WALKER met the Dover squad for the first time this week – and has already got a good idea of what he has got to work with.

And the Whites boss admits that the technical ability within the squad is of a good standard but he would need to see the players in action before forming a true opinion.

He said: “We had a good session on Tuesday. Everyone turned up, apart from two lads and I don’t know who those two are. Most of these players are new to me – apart from the boys who were here during my last spell as manager. But I was told two were missing.

“I’m preparing the team for Saturday, based on what I see in training. Obviously, people such as Paul Hyde have told me a bit about the players, so that will help me this week, at least.”

Now Walker cannot wait for the game at Staines on Saturday.

And he admitted: “I know nothing about Staines, apart from that we have played them twice – so the players here know about them.

“But I am not going to worry about what Staines are going to do – I’ve got to be more concerned with how we will play. I’ve got a couple of ideas, which I’ll keep to myself for now, but obviously the team isn’t winning games.”

Walker is on the lookout for new players to improve the squad but will put any moves on hold until he has a better idea of the strengths and weaknesses at the club.

He said: “I’m always looking at players and aware of what is available out there – but we’ll have to shift players out to bring other ones in. And, at this moment in time, I don’t know completely what we have and haven’t got. I’ve a good idea – but, by next week, we will have played a couple of games and I’ll be in a better position to know exactly.”

Meanwhile, Walker is delighted that Matt Carruthers and Chris Wright will be staying after appealing against internal disciplinary procedures, which would have seen their contracts terminated.

He said: “I know both Matt and Chris very well. Obviously, Matt has played in the first team for many years, while Chris is a kid I’ve coached and watched on a number of occasions.

“I don’t know all the ins and outs of what’s happened – but they are both determined to start with a clean sheet. I’m pleased about that.”

CLIVE WALKER met the Dover squad for the first time this week – and has already got a good idea of what he has got to work with.

And the Whites boss admits that the technical ability within the squad is of a good standard but he would need to see the players in action before forming a true opinion.

He said: “We had a good session on Tuesday. Everyone turned up, apart from two lads and I don’t know who those two are. Most of these players are new to me – apart from the boys who were here during my last spell as manager. But I was told two were missing.

“I’m preparing the team for Saturday, based on what I see in training. Obviously, people such as Paul Hyde have told me a bit about the players, so that will help me this week, at least.”

Now Walker cannot wait for the game at Staines on Saturday.

And he admitted: “I know nothing about Staines, apart from that we have played them twice – so the players here know about them.

“But I am not going to worry about what Staines are going to do – I’ve got to be more concerned with how we will play. I’ve got a couple of ideas, which I’ll keep to myself for now, but obviously the team isn’t winning games.”

Walker is on the lookout for new players to improve the squad but will put any moves on hold until he has a better idea of the strengths and weaknesses at the club.

He said: “I’m always looking at players and aware of what is available out there – but we’ll have to shift players out to bring other ones in. And, at this moment in time, I don’t know completely what we have and haven’t got. I’ve a good idea – but, by next week, we will have played a couple of games and I’ll be in a better position to know exactly.”

Meanwhile, Walker is delighted that Matt Carruthers and Chris Wright will be staying after appealing against internal disciplinary procedures, which would have seen their contracts terminated.

He said: “I know both Matt and Chris very well. Obviously, Matt has played in the first team for many years, while Chris is a kid I’ve coached and watched on a number of occasions.

“I don’t know all the ins and outs of what’s happened – but they are both determined to start with a clean sheet. I’m pleased about that.”

DOVER ATHLETIC can confirm that both winger Matt Carruthers (pictured) and striker Chris Wright will be retained by the club – after clear-the-air talks with new boss Clive Walker and chairman Jim Parmenter.

Both players have been subject to internal disciplinary procedures after breaking the terms set out in their contracts. But the club have decided to give both local players a second chance following frank discussions held tonight at training.

Jim said: “We have given both players a warning. They both have a part in the future of Dover Athletic but have been told in no uncertain terms what is required of them, if they are to remain a part of the club’s plans.”

DOVER ATHLETIC can confirm that both winger Matt Carruthers (pictured) and striker Chris Wright will be retained by the club – after clear-the-air talks with new boss Clive Walker and chairman Jim Parmenter.

Both players have been subject to internal disciplinary procedures after breaking the terms set out in their contracts. But the club have decided to give both local players a second chance following frank discussions held tonight at training.

Jim said: “We have given both players a warning. They both have a part in the future of Dover Athletic but have been told in no uncertain terms what is required of them, if they are to remain a part of the club’s plans.”

CLIVE WALKER loves Dover Athletic and jumped at the chance of returning to the Hoverspeed Stadium when he was contacted by new chairman Jim Parmenter.

The newly-installed Whites boss was sacked by the club’s previous board in October 2003 after a poor start to the season in the Dr Martens League Premier Division.

But Parmenter could not think of anyone better to help steer the club back on an upward trend than Walker when he decided to part company with Steve Browne on Saturday.

And Walker admitted: “This has all come out of the blue to be honest. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be coming back to Dover.

“I had seven years at the club as assistant to Bill Williams, Gary Bellamy and Neville Southall, as well as just a little more than a season in charge myself. I loved being at the club and was disappointed to leave.

“It was not my choice to depart. We had a good squad of players at the start of last season and we got off to a poor start, by our standards, although we were only five to six points from the top.

“I told the board at the time that I was setting myself and the team a target of so many points from x-number of games. I told the board that they should sack me if we didn’t reach that target.

“I did this as a motivational tactic. I was p****d off with my team at that time. We had a good side but they were not performing to the standards I expected. So I told them they had to win games or the club would sack me.

“As it happens, the lads fell short of the target, but I never realised the then board would actually sack me. They held me to my word and met with me in Sittingbourne to discuss my dismissal.

“I was gutted because I never wanted to leave in the first place. But that’s history now, things happen in football and I’m delighted that Jim has given me a chance to come back.”

The squad has changed drastically since Walker departed and he admits that most of the players are unknown to him. But the new Dover boss will be assessing the squad’s strength at training tomorrow night, and over the coming weeks, before deciding on what action to take to improve performances.

Walker admitted: “I’ve only seen 45 minutes of these lads in action. I got over to Folkestone over Christmas at half time and watched the second half. It would be unfair to comment on the squad based purely on those 45 minutes.

“I need to have a good look at them before deciding what we’re going to do. It’s all just happened at the last minute, me coming back to the club. So I’ve not had any time to watch them.

“It goes without saying that something must be wrong for Dover Athletic to be bottom at this level of football. We shouldn’t even be in this league in all honesty, so makes it even more baffling that we’re bottom of it by some distance.

“When I left the club, Dover had a strong squad – one that would comfortably end top half of the Dr Martens League Premier Division, or even win the title. So it was a shock that they managed to get relegated last season and even more of one to see the club struggling in this league – although it’s not the same squad.

“I am sad to see what’s happened to the team’s fortunes since I’ve left but hopefully I can get this reversed and get Dover Athletic winning matches again. That’s what we’ve got to do.

“Relegation isn’t certain yet but of course it’s a huge, huge task to stay up. I think what we need to target now is winning games. Get a winning mentality back at the club and take things from there. That will be my first task, I think.

“Once I meet the squad and get a look at them, I will be in a position to comment more on the situation. But I am just glad to be back.”

Clive has enjoyed a successful spell at Chatham since leaving the Hoverspeed Stadium, saving them from relegation last season and guiding them to mid-table in the Southern League Eastern Division this season on a tight budget.

He admitted: “I’ve enjoyed the past year and a bit at Chatham and Dover were the only club I’d leave them for. As soon as Jim told me they wanted me back, my mind was made up.

“Dover is one of the biggest non-league clubs and now needs to be built up again. It’s a challenge and one I’m going to relish.”

CLIVE WALKER loves Dover Athletic and jumped at the chance of returning to the Hoverspeed Stadium when he was contacted by new chairman Jim Parmenter.

The newly-installed Whites boss was sacked by the club’s previous board in October 2003 after a poor start to the season in the Dr Martens League Premier Division.

But Parmenter could not think of anyone better to help steer the club back on an upward trend than Walker when he decided to part company with Steve Browne on Saturday.

And Walker admitted: “This has all come out of the blue to be honest. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be coming back to Dover.

“I had seven years at the club as assistant to Bill Williams, Gary Bellamy and Neville Southall, as well as just a little more than a season in charge myself. I loved being at the club and was disappointed to leave.

“It was not my choice to depart. We had a good squad of players at the start of last season and we got off to a poor start, by our standards, although we were only five to six points from the top.

“I told the board at the time that I was setting myself and the team a target of so many points from x-number of games. I told the board that they should sack me if we didn’t reach that target.

“I did this as a motivational tactic. I was p****d off with my team at that time. We had a good side but they were not performing to the standards I expected. So I told them they had to win games or the club would sack me.

“As it happens, the lads fell short of the target, but I never realised the then board would actually sack me. They held me to my word and met with me in Sittingbourne to discuss my dismissal.

“I was gutted because I never wanted to leave in the first place. But that’s history now, things happen in football and I’m delighted that Jim has given me a chance to come back.”

The squad has changed drastically since Walker departed and he admits that most of the players are unknown to him. But the new Dover boss will be assessing the squad’s strength at training tomorrow night, and over the coming weeks, before deciding on what action to take to improve performances.

Walker admitted: “I’ve only seen 45 minutes of these lads in action. I got over to Folkestone over Christmas at half time and watched the second half. It would be unfair to comment on the squad based purely on those 45 minutes.

“I need to have a good look at them before deciding what we’re going to do. It’s all just happened at the last minute, me coming back to the club. So I’ve not had any time to watch them.

“It goes without saying that something must be wrong for Dover Athletic to be bottom at this level of football. We shouldn’t even be in this league in all honesty, so makes it even more baffling that we’re bottom of it by some distance.

“When I left the club, Dover had a strong squad – one that would comfortably end top half of the Dr Martens League Premier Division, or even win the title. So it was a shock that they managed to get relegated last season and even more of one to see the club struggling in this league – although it’s not the same squad.

“I am sad to see what’s happened to the team’s fortunes since I’ve left but hopefully I can get this reversed and get Dover Athletic winning matches again. That’s what we’ve got to do.

“Relegation isn’t certain yet but of course it’s a huge, huge task to stay up. I think what we need to target now is winning games. Get a winning mentality back at the club and take things from there. That will be my first task, I think.

“Once I meet the squad and get a look at them, I will be in a position to comment more on the situation. But I am just glad to be back.”

Clive has enjoyed a successful spell at Chatham since leaving the Hoverspeed Stadium, saving them from relegation last season and guiding them to mid-table in the Southern League Eastern Division this season on a tight budget.

He admitted: “I’ve enjoyed the past year and a bit at Chatham and Dover were the only club I’d leave them for. As soon as Jim told me they wanted me back, my mind was made up.

“Dover is one of the biggest non-league clubs and now needs to be built up again. It’s a challenge and one I’m going to relish.”

DOVER ATHLETIC are delighted to announce that Clive Walker is returning to the club as first-team manager.

Clive, who spent seven seasons with the club as No 2 to Bill Williams, Gary Bellamy and Neville Southall, as well as in charge himself, parted company with Whites 15 months ago.

But new Whites chairman Jim Parmenter has reinstated him as manager and hopes Walker will stop the club’s disastrous run of results which leave us bottom of the Ryman League Premier Divison table.

He said: “I don’t think it was right for the club to dismiss Clive in the first place. We were something like 10th in the Dr Martens League Premier table and not a million miles behind the leaders.

“Not many managers can take on this position at Dover but Clive is one of them. He loves the club and knows it inside out.”

Clive, who was manager at Chatham, has left the North Kent side by mutual consent – and they have passed on their best wishes to him as he bids to be a success at the Hoverspeed Stadium.

And he said this morning: “I am delighted to be returning to Dover. I wouldn’t have left Chatham for any other club. I am determined to rebuild Dover Athletic and help restore them to among the top non-league clubs in the country.”

DOVER ATHLETIC are delighted to announce that Clive Walker is returning to the club as first-team manager.

Clive, who spent seven seasons with the club as No 2 to Bill Williams, Gary Bellamy and Neville Southall, as well as in charge himself, parted company with Whites 15 months ago.

But new Whites chairman Jim Parmenter has reinstated him as manager and hopes Walker will stop the club’s disastrous run of results which leave us bottom of the Ryman League Premier Divison table.

He said: “I don’t think it was right for the club to dismiss Clive in the first place. We were something like 10th in the Dr Martens League Premier table and not a million miles behind the leaders.

“Not many managers can take on this position at Dover but Clive is one of them. He loves the club and knows it inside out.”

Clive, who was manager at Chatham, has left the North Kent side by mutual consent – and they have passed on their best wishes to him as he bids to be a success at the Hoverspeed Stadium.

And he said this morning: “I am delighted to be returning to Dover. I wouldn’t have left Chatham for any other club. I am determined to rebuild Dover Athletic and help restore them to among the top non-league clubs in the country.”

THIS season for myself will be one to remember for a number of reasons.

And throughout it all, I have to give the reserve team players great credit for their commitment and desire in playing for Dover Athletic, which at times has been extremely difficult.

However, with the club in safe hands at the helm from now on, players should have no worries other than concentrating on playing football.

I would also like to thank those first team players who have played for the reserves so far this season and for their attitude when selected, as they have not in anyway taken the matches and training less seriously. They have all showed great enthusiasm.

Bill Friend and myself are lucky to have a talented bunch of youngsters who have bonded extremely well together.

Team spirit and morale is high with players from North Kent and the local lads displaying a togetherness as demonstrated at our Christmas night out in Ashford (Don’t worry lads what goes on tour stays on tour).

The reserve team is there to support the first team in all matters. We are there should first team players require matches on returning from injury or suspension, along with giving first team players who have been substitutes a full 90 minutes to keep them match fit.

This has been demonstrated recently with Tom Hickman, James Rogers and James Gregory being needed for first-team duty. We also give matches to trialists, currently Walid Matata and Pierre Lisbie have represented the reserves and both players have done very well – and are now involved in the first team’s training sessions.

Behind the scenes both Gary Finnis and myself are planning to introduce more exposure to reserve team football for the current Under 18s, a number of them will be selected to attend reserve team training sessions and travel and have some involvement on match days. This commenced last week, with the inclusion of Jordan Pettman against Tooting and Mitcham, and the recent training session which I took combining the reserves and U18s.

Garry later informed me the U18s enjoyed themselves and learned a lot – in particular the fitness and physical side of what it takes. This can only help their development and benefit the first team in the long run.

The current crop of reserve team players are on average 20-21 years old with the exception of Grant Bagley (18) and Jason White (19). A number of the players you will be familiar with are Lee Scott, Kevin Lott, Rob Smidmore, Micky Lane, James Farrier, Laurence Ball and Dave Clifford – who made first team appearances earlier in the season under difficult circumstances.

However, these players continue to develop and, as long as they learn by their mistakes and show desire to improve, should become quality players in their own right and push for first
team selection within a year or 18 months. It’s up to them

Due to recent departures from the first team squad and selection of reserve team players, I was left with no option but to bring in new players to bolster the squad – as unfortunately a number of the U18s are not ready and have commitments on Sundays with their own matches.

I will not sign players to simply give them a game and help us out. The players who have come to the club recently are George Fenwick (20), who I have known personally for three years and been tracking since his return from America from a football scholarship. George has tremendous ability and comes from a footballing family as his father is ex-England international Terry Fenwick. George is a little ring-rusty but has produced reasonable performances in his first two appeararances. We will monitor his progress.

Steve Wade (20), who I have known for two to three years, has signed from Ashford Town. Steve is a tough tackling no-nonsense player. Again, as with George and other reserve team players, their progress and development will be monitored.

The reserves remain in a good position in the league to gain promotion to the Premier Division However, certain individual performances, a lack of concentration, poor defending and missed chances, as displayed against Tooting last weekend, will jeopardise our hard work to date and make promotion impossible.

I am looking for a positive response this weekend away to Erith & Belvedere in the quarter final of the Kent Intermediate Cup.

I hope this brief summary gives you all a understanding of events in which we are all focused on developing players, who will one day pull on a first-team shirt and wear it with pride.

All the best,

Gary Whittle

THIS season for myself will be one to remember for a number of reasons.

And throughout it all, I have to give the reserve team players great credit for their commitment and desire in playing for Dover Athletic, which at times has been extremely difficult.

However, with the club in safe hands at the helm from now on, players should have no worries other than concentrating on playing football.

I would also like to thank those first team players who have played for the reserves so far this season and for their attitude when selected, as they have not in anyway taken the matches and training less seriously. They have all showed great enthusiasm.

Bill Friend and myself are lucky to have a talented bunch of youngsters who have bonded extremely well together.

Team spirit and morale is high with players from North Kent and the local lads displaying a togetherness as demonstrated at our Christmas night out in Ashford (Don’t worry lads what goes on tour stays on tour).

The reserve team is there to support the first team in all matters. We are there should first team players require matches on returning from injury or suspension, along with giving first team players who have been substitutes a full 90 minutes to keep them match fit.

This has been demonstrated recently with Tom Hickman, James Rogers and James Gregory being needed for first-team duty. We also give matches to trialists, currently Walid Matata and Pierre Lisbie have represented the reserves and both players have done very well – and are now involved in the first team’s training sessions.

Behind the scenes both Gary Finnis and myself are planning to introduce more exposure to reserve team football for the current Under 18s, a number of them will be selected to attend reserve team training sessions and travel and have some involvement on match days. This commenced last week, with the inclusion of Jordan Pettman against Tooting and Mitcham, and the recent training session which I took combining the reserves and U18s.

Garry later informed me the U18s enjoyed themselves and learned a lot – in particular the fitness and physical side of what it takes. This can only help their development and benefit the first team in the long run.

The current crop of reserve team players are on average 20-21 years old with the exception of Grant Bagley (18) and Jason White (19). A number of the players you will be familiar with are Lee Scott, Kevin Lott, Rob Smidmore, Micky Lane, James Farrier, Laurence Ball and Dave Clifford – who made first team appearances earlier in the season under difficult circumstances.

However, these players continue to develop and, as long as they learn by their mistakes and show desire to improve, should become quality players in their own right and push for first
team selection within a year or 18 months. It’s up to them

Due to recent departures from the first team squad and selection of reserve team players, I was left with no option but to bring in new players to bolster the squad – as unfortunately a number of the U18s are not ready and have commitments on Sundays with their own matches.

I will not sign players to simply give them a game and help us out. The players who have come to the club recently are George Fenwick (20), who I have known personally for three years and been tracking since his return from America from a football scholarship. George has tremendous ability and comes from a footballing family as his father is ex-England international Terry Fenwick. George is a little ring-rusty but has produced reasonable performances in his first two appeararances. We will monitor his progress.

Steve Wade (20), who I have known for two to three years, has signed from Ashford Town. Steve is a tough tackling no-nonsense player. Again, as with George and other reserve team players, their progress and development will be monitored.

The reserves remain in a good position in the league to gain promotion to the Premier Division However, certain individual performances, a lack of concentration, poor defending and missed chances, as displayed against Tooting last weekend, will jeopardise our hard work to date and make promotion impossible.

I am looking for a positive response this weekend away to Erith & Belvedere in the quarter final of the Kent Intermediate Cup.

I hope this brief summary gives you all a understanding of events in which we are all focused on developing players, who will one day pull on a first-team shirt and wear it with pride.

All the best,

Gary Whittle