Walker is ready and waiting to bolster squad
CLIVE WALKER is not letting his side relax now that Dover
Athletic have been relegated, writes Justin Allen.
The Whites boss was delighted to take three points from
Wealdstone at Edgware on Saturday but admits it was a battle.
He said: "The pitch was appalling, it really was. You
couldn't play any kind of football and the ball couldn't run in some areas of
the field, because the grass was too long.
"It's one of the worst pitches we've played on and you
have to feel sorry for Wealdstone having to play their home games on it.
"From our point of view, it was just a case of working
hard and getting a result. Sometimes you just have to go to these places, get
a result and get the hell out.
"The lads worked hard to be fair and I was pleased with
that aspect. However, we can play a lot better."
Walker has already been planning the squad for next season. He
will be in a position to start doing some business in the next week or two
when other clubs have finished their fixtures.
Most sides finish this Saturday but there are play-off games,
which will extend the season by another couple of weeks.
The Dover boss said: "I've got some targets and I'm very
confident we'll have a good enough team to win Ryman One. Of course, nothing
is guaranteed in football but I'm happy with how things are shaping
up."
Whites will know within the next week whether Daniel
Braithwaite, Victor Renner and Walid Matata wish to stay next season - and
Narada Bernard is expected to make his mind up too. All four players have
been offered one-year deals.
Walker said: "I hope they all stay but it is up to them. We've offered
them very good deals and can't really go any higher with money - that is
what got this club in trouble in the past, so we don't want to go down that
road again.
"The four lads all know that we want them to be part of
what I think is going to be a successful Dover Athletic set-up and hopefully
they'll stay here."
Meanwhile, the Whites chief says that the club needs a
certain type of player to help take the club forward.
He said: "Dover Athletic need players with a certain
mentality. Clubs in the city attract players who move from club to club
because they're all within in a near distance of each other. We need
someone who has a feel for the club and understands what Dover Athletic
means to the fans. I'm looking for these kind of players.
"I am going away at the end of June to coach in the
States and most players will be signed up before then. I'll probably leave
two or three spots vacant until after I get back. From experience, there's
always a few lads who haven't been fixed up at the last minute and try
their luck here. I want to make sure we don't close the door completely
before then."
Dover Athletic v Eastleigh
Ryman League Premier Division
Saturday 30th April 2005
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Hoverspeed Stadium, Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, Dover
