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We're moving forward!
JIM PARMENTER has told
Dover Athletic fans not to press the panic button yet - despite Saturday's 2-1
defeat at Heybridge Swifts, writes Justin Allen.
The Dover chairman is confident that the club, despite its current position in the Ryman League Premier table, is on an upward trend.
It is still, even now, possible for relegation to be avoided. This is despite striker Paul Armstrong's decision to leave the club last night to join Billericay Town and the possible departure of Dean Palmer to Yeading.
Parmenter said: "It's not an ideal situation. Of course, to stay up is an uphill challenge but we should not give up yet.
"We still have seven home games left. If we win them and pick up a couple of victories on the road, the club will stay in this division.
"But, of course, relegation is a real possibility. We've known this since coming in, but the board and manager Clive Walker are confident that we will soon get a winning team on the pitch.
"Whatever league we're playing in next season, promotion will be our target - whether that's Ryman Premier to Conference South or Ryman One to Ryman Premier."
Armstrong, Palmer and Daniel Braithwaite have all been offered generous contracts, which if signed would keep them at the Hoverspeed Stadium until the end of next season.
All three players declined to sign the deals. Armstrong has instead opted to join Billericay while Palmer is subject to a seven-day approach from top-of-the-table Yeading.
Meanwhile, Braithwaite, Jude Sterling, Stuart Maynard and Victor Renner have told the club they will stay until the end of the season.
Braithwaite will review his situation with Whites in the summer. Meanwhile, the rest of the players are under contract.
Parmenter said: "We have to appreciate the situation with these players. They live around the London area and signing for clubs within a close radius of their homes can be attractive.
"However, we have offered them contracts, good ones too, to stay here for another season. I doubt they will get contracts at the clubs they are joining.
"This seems to be the common way things are done in the Ryman League. Players move from club to club, follow managers around, and generally don't commit themselves.
"I question the wisdom of bringing in players who are not prepared to commit themselves in the first place. You leave yourself open to seven-day approaches and having your side disrupted every time a player leaves.
"It is the board's intention to find players who will be committed to Dover Athletic and tie these lads down on contracts - so we don't have to worry about losing our best players all the time."
Walker was disappointed with the performance at Heybridge Swifts and is aware that the squad needs strengthening if the team is to win matches on a regular basis.
He was particularly disappointed with the team's defending and said: "We allowed balls to bounce around and didn't attack the ball enough. That is a big problem and an area we've got to improve.
"Unfortunately, every defeat is critical. We cannot afford to lose. We have a home game now against Salisbury on Saturday and must win it.
"I thought the officials were poor at Heybridge. The penalty was harsh. Dean Reading was lying on the ground and the ball has hit him. The ref's not given it but the linesman has flagged saying it's hit his hand. Very harsh in my opinion.
"The second goal was a poor one to concede. It was from a cross-cum-shot but the cross should have been closed down in the first place. Again, very disappointing."
Walker hopes to sign a midfielder this week and may bring in a striker. with Armstrong gone, and Chris Wright struggling with a hamstring, Walker's options are limited.
Finding players at this stage of the season is tough but Walker believes things will become much easier in the summer, when he intends to sign a number of new players.
He said: "It's important we strengthen. We need to get one or two in now to give us a chance of staying up - but the real team rebuilding will have to be done in the summer."