WHITES midfield ace Stuart Maynard says he is still hurting after Saturday’s defeat at Eastleigh – but insists: “We’ll climb out of the relegation zone.”

Maynard, one of the new players that Steve Browne has brought to Dover since becoming manager, believes the team has enough quality to be fighting towards the top end of the table.

He said: “Losing ruined my weekend. It was so gutting because we played well and dominated the match. We are just being let down in the final third at the moment, plus we’re not getting much luck, which always seems to be the way when you’re down near the bottom.

“But we played some good football and dominated against one of the top sides. At least, that is something to build on and we know that if we keep playing the way we are, results will come.

“We certainly have the players to get us right up the table and are very confident that we’re going to achieve it. Hopefully, we can get some more wins under our belts, now we’ve got some home matches coming up.”

Maynard is enjoying his time on the south-east coast and believes Dover Athletic are the biggest club in the Ryman League Premier Division in terms of stadium, fanbase and set-up. He cannot believe that Whites are even at this level but understands it has been a tough few seasons for the club.

He said: “Dover is a Conference club, when you look at the ground and fanbase. It’s all geared for the Football League to be honest. But of course we’re a Ryman side and have to get the club back to that level again.

“It’s great to be at a club that wants to go places. I can see that there is a lot of ambition at Dover and, as a player, that is great to see.

“I am really enjoying being at Dover. The journey down is a long one but it’s well worth it when you get to play infront of crowds not far off 1,000. Let’s hope the fans keep coming through the turnstiles. We are playing good football and believe we are going to get the results that see Dover climb up this table.

“Morale is high in the camp. Although we’ve been losing, we’ve been playing well and that has kept everyone’s spirits up.”

DEAN PALMER is looking forward to not only enjoying his football – but also being a winner.

The Whites defender, like all his team-mates, cannot believe that the club are still scratching around for their first away league win.

He said: “We pretty much outplayed Hampton and Eastleigh. They are two top sides and there’s no way either of those teams should have got anything out of the games, let alone win them.

“The boys are playing some entertaining football at the moment – and that’s a real Steve Browne trademark – and if we can start scoring, then the fans are going to be coming back to watch Dover in their droves.

“A lot of teams in this division try and muscle you out of games – and smash the ball long. We pass the ball around a bit and can give as good as get on the physical side of things. too.

“The club get good crowds and it’s a great stage to play. We know that the fans will come out in numbers if we start to get some results. They want to watch a winning team and hopefully we can continue winning at home.

“We have outplayed the top teams in the division so I have no doubt in my mind that we will start converting these performances into wins.”

Palmer joined up with Whites from Hemel Hempstead and explained: “I wasn’t enjoying my football there and Steve gave me a call, asking me to come down and take a look at Dover.

“Once I saw the lovely ground, the set-up and stuff, my mind was made up. I had to go for it. I am really enjoying my football at Dover – but now want to start enjoying a few wins.”

STEVE BROWNE was delighted to secure Whites’ first away win since March but admits his men did leave it late – in fact very late.

Dean Palmer’s 90th-minute strike earned Dover victory at Ryman League Division One club Bromley and a passage through to the Kent Senior Cup second round after the hosts had cancelled out Craig Wilkins’ first-half opener.

And Browne said: “A win is a win – and it’s away from home. We’ve not won since last March so, at long last, the fans who follow us everywhere have something to smile about. And we, as a team, have something to smile about.

“Some fans had told me that we ought to win these kind of games against the likes of Bromley. But we don’t have any divine right to beat anyone. You have to work hard and earn the right to win a match.

“There are some good teams in Ryman Division One. Bromley are halfway up that division and can compete with Premier sides and so they proved last night.

“We didn’t turn up in the second half in all honesty and the goal we conceded was sloppy. But we again looked solid at the back and that’s something I’m very pleased about.

“Craig has scored, which I hope can give him the confidence to go on and score many more for us. He could have had a hat-trick last night with the amount of chances that came his way. But I am really pleased for him that he has managed to hit the back of net because he’s worked hard.”

James Rogers and Sam Vallance both came into the team and Browne was happy with both their performances.

Rogers, though, is still feeling ill, since he was taken to hospital with stomach cramps following the recent friendly with Bishops Stortford.

Browne said: “We want to investigate the illness that James is suffering at the moment. We’re concerned for the lad because this is the second match where he’s ended up feeling ill. So we’re going to be looking into this.”

Vallance, who has had England Schoolboy trials recently, played at right-back and central midfield and impressed the Whites boss.

Meanwhile, Browne has invited Dunstable striker Grant Carney to training tomorrow evening.

Carney is being tracked by a number of clubs but Browne hopes that he will be impressed by Dover Athletic’s set-up and sign in time to play at Eastleigh on Saturday.

The Whites boss said: “We’ve got a good set-up at Dover. It’s impressive by Ryman League standards and word is getting out that we’re a good club to play for. I hope we can get Grant because we do need another front man.

“Also we’re desperate for a central midfielder. A Mr Nasty in the centre who is going to be our ballwinner. I do feel, at this moment in time, we’re just lacking a bit of muscle. Warren Ryan is certainly vital for us in this department but he’s injured at the moment and is a doubt for Saturday.”

STEVE BROWNE was delighted to secure Whites’ first away win since March but admits his men did leave it late – in fact very late.

Dean Palmer’s 90th-minute strike earned Dover victory at Ryman League Division One club Bromley and a passage through to the Kent Senior Cup second round after the hosts had cancelled out Craig Wilkins’ first-half opener.

And Browne said: “A win is a win – and it’s away from home. We’ve not won since last March so, at long last, the fans who follow us everywhere have something to smile about. And we, as a team, have something to smile about.

“Some fans had told me that we ought to win these kind of games against the likes of Bromley. But we don’t have any divine right to beat anyone. You have to work hard and earn the right to win a match.

“There are some good teams in Ryman Division One. Bromley are halfway up that division and can compete with Premier sides and so they proved last night.

“We didn’t turn up in the second half in all honesty and the goal we conceded was sloppy. But we again looked solid at the back and that’s something I’m very pleased about.

“Craig has scored, which I hope can give him the confidence to go on and score many more for us. He could have had a hat-trick last night with the amount of chances that came his way. But I am really pleased for him that he has managed to hit the back of net because he’s worked hard.”

James Rogers and Sam Vallance both came into the team and Browne was happy with both their performances.

Rogers, though, is still feeling ill, since he was taken to hospital with stomach cramps following the recent friendly with Bishops Stortford.

Browne said: “We want to investigate the illness that James is suffering at the moment. We’re concerned for the lad because this is the second match where he’s ended up feeling ill. So we’re going to be looking into this.”

Vallance, who has had England Schoolboy trials recently, played at right-back and central midfield and impressed the Whites boss.

Meanwhile, Browne has invited Dunstable striker Grant Carney to training tomorrow evening.

Carney is being tracked by a number of clubs but Browne hopes that he will be impressed by Dover Athletic’s set-up and sign in time to play at Eastleigh on Saturday.

The Whites boss said: “We’ve got a good set-up at Dover. It’s impressive by Ryman League standards and word is getting out that we’re a good club to play for. I hope we can get Grant because we do need another front man.

“Also we’re desperate for a central midfielder. A Mr Nasty in the centre who is going to be our ballwinner. I do feel, at this moment in time, we’re just lacking a bit of muscle. Warren Ryan is certainly vital for us in this department but he’s injured at the moment and is a doubt for Saturday.”

STEVE BROWNE is stepping up his search for a striker after his men failed to score for the second week running.

The Whites boss was bitterly disappointed to come away from new league leaders Hampton and Richmond with nothing after controlling the game for long periods.

And Browne admitted: “I’m concerned we’re not scoring. We have in fact scored four goals in our last three league matches. But that’s two games running, if you include Staines in the FA Trophy, where we have not looked too good in the final third and failed to hit the net.

“We got a lot of balls into the Hampton box – although I have to admit they weren’t exactly quality deliveries – and also we’re lacking someone to convert the chances. Craig Wilkins is a good player and he is doing everything right. Once he gets one goal, I’m sure they’ll flow from him.

“I am particularly gutted by this result because I’d said only last week that basic errors were costing us dearly. Then we put in a very good performance on Saturday, looked solid, controlled the game for long periods but didn’t score.

“Their chairman apologised to our directors after the match for stealing the points off us. But that is of little consolation to me at the moment.”

Browne is known to admire Hornchurch striker Andy Douglas, who scored three goals during a loan spell at Chelmsford earlier this season, and played for the Urchins in their 5-2 FA Cup first round defeat at Boston on Saturday.

But the Dover boss confirmed he is talking to an unnamed forward, currently on trial at Bristol Rovers this week.

And he said: “The lad is trying his luck at Rovers but if things don’t come off for him he has promised to turn out for me on Saturday. He will, for sure, get goals, if he comes. But it’s not a definite as yet and I’ve got a few irons in the fire.

“We do need to be more clinical in the final third and that’s why I’ve got to go out to get someone in. I’d love to give some of the players more time but we can’t afford that unfortunately. We’ve not had the benefit of a pre-season and that’s obviously something that has gone against us.

“I have to make some decisions this week. To bring players in, I’ll have to shift some out in the opposite direction – even out on loan.”

The gap between Whites and Chelmsford, who currently occupy the last safety spot, is six points. And victories at Eastleigh on Saturday and at home to Harrow next Tuesday could see Dover level.

With this in mind, the Whites boss is not panicking yet and urges fans to keep the faith because he is confident this situation can be turned around.

He said: “I could see it on the fans’ and directors’ faces at the end of the match at Hampton how disappointed everyone was. It’s a bitter blow for everyone at the club and I understand that.

“This club should not be second from bottom is this league. But we are and I’ve brought in lots of new players to make us more competitive to give us a great chance of staying up. The two league defeats have been against the top teams in the division away from home, although I’ve seen nothing in those two games that suggests we’re worse than them.

“We look so solid and that is something to build on. When I first came here, everyone had been talking about poor performances. I don’t think we’re talking about poor performances anymore, which is good, but we’re still losing – and that’s what we’ve got to reverse.

“The team is playing catch-up but I’m not panicking and neither are the players. And the fans must not panic too.”

Warren Ryan’s loan from Waltham Forest is due to expire soon but Browne has told the board he would like to sign the player permanently.

Meanwhile, Lee Shearer is expected to extend his loan for another month and Browne hopes the club will offer him a deal too.

But Browne admitted: “I don’t want to put the club under pressure. I know we’ve got financial problems and a budget is there to stick to. Hopefully we can sort something out because Warren and Lee are two huge players for us.”

LEE SHEARER wants to stay at Dover and help get the club back into the Conference.

River End hero Shearer, 27, spent two seasons away from Dover Athletic and admits Margate and Gravesend just do not match up to the warmness of playing at the Hoverspeed Stadium, which he calls his second home.

The central defender – signed by former boss Bill Williams from Leyton Orient – is hoping to extend his loan from Gravesend when the current month expires and wants to sign for Whites permanently.

And he admitted: “It’s like I’ve never been away. I am a Dover fan anyway and even when I was playing for Margate and Gravesend I’d be up here singing and cheering with the Dover fans if I didn’t have a game.”

It is said that Shearer once joined in with the chant of “We hate Margate” while he was still a player for our rivals up the coast.

Shearer, who was selected for the England Semi-Pro side during his first spell at the club, said: “I got a lot of stick when I signed for Margate. It was like signing for the enemy but I was always a Dover fan. A lot of stuff was happening at the club at the time.

“Without dragging all the past up again, a lot of the lads were upset that season we went down. Gary Bellamy brought a load of players in who were earning much more than those of us who had been around for a few years. It caused splits in the dressing room and the atmosphere wasn’t the best.

“But I’ve always got on with the Dover fans. After all, I am one of them and Dover should be in the Conference. It shouldn’t be sitting second from bottom in the Ryman League – two divisions below where it was when I first played here.

“That’s why I jumped at the chance to come back when it was offered to me.”

Shearer was even in the Gravesend first-team a couple of days before he signed for Whites and a large section of the Fleet crowd cannot believe they have allowed him to leave.

But Shearer admitted: “I didn’t know this was going to happen either. I was in their team and suddenly Andy Ford, the manager there, told me I was going out on loan. And I asked where. He told me they had received a call from Dover and immediately I was interested.

“I got talking to Steve Browne and really liked him. He reminded me that he played against me for Yeovil when we beat them 4-0. We had a bit of a laugh about it and he then told me of his plans for Dover. And I want to help.

“Everything about Dover is a Conference club and I’d love nothing more than to play for this club again in that division. I always said I’d come back to play for Dover one day and here I am.”

Shearer admits that although it is the same old faces on the terraces that are cheering him, the playing personnel have completely changed.

He said: “Only Matt Carruthers and Paul Hyde are left from when I was here. But the lads we’ve got in the team are quality players and no way are we going to end in those bottom four positions with this team. We just need to start scoring goals because apart from that we look solid.”

STEVE BROWNE is stepping up his search for a striker after his men failed to score for the second week running.

The Whites boss was bitterly disappointed to come away from new league leaders Hampton and Richmond with nothing after controlling the game for long periods.

And Browne admitted: “I’m concerned we’re not scoring. We have in fact scored four goals in our last three league matches. But that’s two games running, if you include Staines in the FA Trophy, where we have not looked too good in the final third and failed to hit the net.

“We got a lot of balls into the Hampton box – although I have to admit they weren’t exactly quality deliveries – and also we’re lacking someone to convert the chances. Craig Wilkins is a good player and he is doing everything right. Once he gets one goal, I’m sure they’ll flow from him.

“I am particularly gutted by this result because I’d said only last week that basic errors were costing us dearly. Then we put in a very good performance on Saturday, looked solid, controlled the game for long periods but didn’t score.

“Their chairman apologised to our directors after the match for stealing the points off us. But that is of little consolation to me at the moment.”

Browne is known to admire Hornchurch striker Andy Douglas, who scored three goals during a loan spell at Chelmsford earlier this season, and played for the Urchins in their 5-2 FA Cup first round defeat at Boston on Saturday.

But the Dover boss confirmed he is talking to an unnamed forward, currently on trial at Bristol Rovers this week.

And he said: “The lad is trying his luck at Rovers but if things don’t come off for him he has promised to turn out for me on Saturday. He will, for sure, get goals, if he comes. But it’s not a definite as yet and I’ve got a few irons in the fire.

“We do need to be more clinical in the final third and that’s why I’ve got to go out to get someone in. I’d love to give some of the players more time but we can’t afford that unfortunately. We’ve not had the benefit of a pre-season and that’s obviously something that has gone against us.

“I have to make some decisions this week. To bring players in, I’ll have to shift some out in the opposite direction – even out on loan.”

The gap between Whites and Chelmsford, who currently occupy the last safety spot, is six points. And victories at Eastleigh on Saturday and at home to Harrow next Tuesday could see Dover level.

With this in mind, the Whites boss is not panicking yet and urges fans to keep the faith because he is confident this situation can be turned around.

He said: “I could see it on the fans’ and directors’ faces at the end of the match at Hampton how disappointed everyone was. It’s a bitter blow for everyone at the club and I understand that.

“This club should not be second from bottom is this league. But we are and I’ve brought in lots of new players to make us more competitive to give us a great chance of staying up. The two league defeats have been against the top teams in the division away from home, although I’ve seen nothing in those two games that suggests we’re worse than them.

“We look so solid and that is something to build on. When I first came here, everyone had been talking about poor performances. I don’t think we’re talking about poor performances anymore, which is good, but we’re still losing – and that’s what we’ve got to reverse.

“The team is playing catch-up but I’m not panicking and neither are the players. And the fans must not panic too.”

Warren Ryan’s loan from Waltham Forest is due to expire soon but Browne has told the board he would like to sign the player permanently.

Meanwhile, Lee Shearer is expected to extend his loan for another month and Browne hopes the club will offer him a deal too.

But Browne admitted: “I don’t want to put the club under pressure. I know we’ve got financial problems and a budget is there to stick to. Hopefully we can sort something out because Warren and Lee are two huge players for us.”

LEE SHEARER wants to stay at Dover and help get the club back into the Conference.

River End hero Shearer, 27, spent two seasons away from Dover Athletic and admits Margate and Gravesend just do not match up to the warmness of playing at the Hoverspeed Stadium, which he calls his second home.

The central defender – signed by former boss Bill Williams from Leyton Orient – is hoping to extend his loan from Gravesend when the current month expires and wants to sign for Whites permanently.

And he admitted: “It’s like I’ve never been away. I am a Dover fan anyway and even when I was playing for Margate and Gravesend I’d be up here singing and cheering with the Dover fans if I didn’t have a game.”

It is said that Shearer once joined in with the chant of “We hate Margate” while he was still a player for our rivals up the coast.

Shearer, who was selected for the England Semi-Pro side during his first spell at the club, said: “I got a lot of stick when I signed for Margate. It was like signing for the enemy but I was always a Dover fan. A lot of stuff was happening at the club at the time.

“Without dragging all the past up again, a lot of the lads were upset that season we went down. Gary Bellamy brought a load of players in who were earning much more than those of us who had been around for a few years. It caused splits in the dressing room and the atmosphere wasn’t the best.

“But I’ve always got on with the Dover fans. After all, I am one of them and Dover should be in the Conference. It shouldn’t be sitting second from bottom in the Ryman League – two divisions below where it was when I first played here.

“That’s why I jumped at the chance to come back when it was offered to me.”

Shearer was even in the Gravesend first-team a couple of days before he signed for Whites and a large section of the Fleet crowd cannot believe they have allowed him to leave.

But Shearer admitted: “I didn’t know this was going to happen either. I was in their team and suddenly Andy Ford, the manager there, told me I was going out on loan. And I asked where. He told me they had received a call from Dover and immediately I was interested.

“I got talking to Steve Browne and really liked him. He reminded me that he played against me for Yeovil when we beat them 4-0. We had a bit of a laugh about it and he then told me of his plans for Dover. And I want to help.

“Everything about Dover is a Conference club and I’d love nothing more than to play for this club again in that division. I always said I’d come back to play for Dover one day and here I am.”

Shearer admits that although it is the same old faces on the terraces that are cheering him, the playing personnel have completely changed.

He said: “Only Matt Carruthers and Paul Hyde are left from when I was here. But the lads we’ve got in the team are quality players and no way are we going to end in those bottom four positions with this team. We just need to start scoring goals because apart from that we look solid.”

THE club’s exit from the FA Trophy at Staines on Saturday comes as a terrific disappointment and a realisation that there are no more extra pay-days this season.

Although we had a great gate against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup we would have preferred a passage through to the next stage and some prize money on the way. The form book gave us no right to expect an easy ride against Staines but fresh zip brought in by new manager Steve Browne suggested to many that we might at least get a replay.

This is something of a bitter pill and when the board meets in the next seven days we have to look at the finance needed to get through the remainder of the season, remembering that our gift at Barnet last January provided us with a share of a decent gate as well as the prize money and a home replay against Forest Green Rovers, plus that prize money. All in all, in excess of £10,000.

We will also be contacting the CVA supervisor to establish if the outcome of the legal opinion on Modification 5 is known, given that it is around a month overdue. Either way, we are expecting to have to pay over the £23k imminently.

We’ve made no secret of the fact that the club has been carrying a c. £25k from each of its last two seasons. We have survived by using tomorrow’s money to pay yesterday’s debts. This has been possible through varying degrees of success in cup competitions which have kept the bonus matches and prize monies rolling into the second half of the season.

The possibility of extending that scenario was snuffed out at Staines last Saturday.

Last week, the Supporters Trust made a further contribution towards the club in exchange for shares in order that the monthly instalment to the CVA could be paid. Unfortunately, that takes a fair chunk out of the war chest.

More than ever we need fans to rally round and support the three home fixtures that arise within 11 days of each other at the end of this month, the David Elleray evening in between and the various Trust fundraisers (including the Supporters Plaques, Christmas Raffle and the Walk to Folkestone).

It is also a timely reminder to the businesses in and around the town that once offered marvellous support to the club that you are needed more than ever.

We are trying hard to build things at Dover Athletic and hope that everyone can see that – but we need the town, fans and businesses, to get behind us.

THE club’s exit from the FA Trophy at Staines on Saturday comes as a terrific disappointment and a realisation that there are no more extra pay-days this season.

Although we had a great gate against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup we would have preferred a passage through to the next stage and some prize money on the way. The form book gave us no right to expect an easy ride against Staines but fresh zip brought in by new manager Steve Browne suggested to many that we might at least get a replay.

This is something of a bitter pill and when the board meets in the next seven days we have to look at the finance needed to get through the remainder of the season, remembering that our gift at Barnet last January provided us with a share of a decent gate as well as the prize money and a home replay against Forest Green Rovers, plus that prize money. All in all, in excess of £10,000.

We will also be contacting the CVA supervisor to establish if the outcome of the legal opinion on Modification 5 is known, given that it is around a month overdue. Either way, we are expecting to have to pay over the £23k imminently.

We’ve made no secret of the fact that the club has been carrying a c. £25k from each of its last two seasons. We have survived by using tomorrow’s money to pay yesterday’s debts. This has been possible through varying degrees of success in cup competitions which have kept the bonus matches and prize monies rolling into the second half of the season.

The possibility of extending that scenario was snuffed out at Staines last Saturday.

Last week, the Supporters Trust made a further contribution towards the club in exchange for shares in order that the monthly instalment to the CVA could be paid. Unfortunately, that takes a fair chunk out of the war chest.

More than ever we need fans to rally round and support the three home fixtures that arise within 11 days of each other at the end of this month, the David Elleray evening in between and the various Trust fundraisers (including the Supporters Plaques, Christmas Raffle and the Walk to Folkestone).

It is also a timely reminder to the businesses in and around the town that once offered marvellous support to the club that you are needed more than ever.

We are trying hard to build things at Dover Athletic and hope that everyone can see that – but we need the town, fans and businesses, to get behind us.