Hessenthaler in talks to bring Southall to Dover Athletic

Sunday 12th July 2009

ANDY HESSENTHALER says he wants to bring his former Gillingham team-mate Nicky Southall to Dover Athletic, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 37-year-old has made 561 starting appearances in the Football League for the likes of Hartlepool United (138 appearances), Grimsby Town (29), Bolton Wanderers (16), Norwich City (4), Nottingham Forest (71) and 303 for Gillingham.

And last season the Stockton born midfielder made a handful of appearances for Hessenthaler’s side during their Ryman Premier League title winning campaign.

Southall, now released by Gillingham, played 90 minutes for the Whites in yesterday’s opening warm-up match against Barnet, which ended in a 2-1 defeat.

“He played ninety minutes Nicky, to be fair, he was very good, he settled in very well,” Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent.

“Over the period of the game (he) got stronger and stronger. We were very pleased with Nicky today.”

Hessenthaler hopes to be able to strike up a deal to bring his business partner to the Blue Square South club.

“We would love him to come to our club, but there’s a few things that have to be spoken about,” he said.

“He’s only been training with us for one session and played today, so we’ll have to wait and see.

“If he was going to decided to play non-league, I think there’s only one club he will be playing and that will be ourselves.

“He loves it here, he’s been here on loan and enjoyed it, he enjoyed it today, and I think he has to weigh up the situation now.

“Nicky doesn’t want to go anywhere travelling wise now at this stage of his life with family.

“It all works well pretty much for us - it works in our favour.

“We’ll be talking to him in the next week or so and hopefully I’ll be able to do a deal with him”.

The Whites returned to action yesterday, losing 2-1 at home to Coca-Cola League Two outfit Barnet.

“We’ve got a lot out of it,” admitted Hessenthaler. “At this stage, the first friendly, it’s about fitness, not about results.

Speaking about the first half, where striker Frannie Collin opened his account for the new season, Hessenthaler said: “Very pleased, excited with the way we played. Second half, we didn’t play as well, again, it’s about the fitness side of the game. Overall, pleased with the work-out.”

It gave supporters the chance to watch the club’s three summer signings in action for the first time; goalkeeper Lee Hook (Eastbourne Borough), Tony Davis and Jake Leberl, who have signed from AFC Wimbledon, and a number of trialists.

“The three boys that we’ve signed have settled in very well,” said Hessenthaler. “All three of them done very well today.

“We had a few other trialists’ out there today to have a look at and a few younger boys out there as well and we got enough out of that and it gives us an indication, the standard of some of the trialists’ that we’ve got on parade.”

The manager admitted it’s hard for semi-professional footballers to compete for 90 minutes so early in their pre-season campaign.

“There’s a difference obviously,” admitted Hessenthaler. “The full-time training, they looked better than us fitness wise, I felt, the longer the game went on.

“It’s not a massive gap, but there is a gap. I think it’s difficult to judge (players) on friendlies because there’s a lot of changes in the game, so you do get a little disjointed.”

Meanwhile, Hessenthaler is in negotiations with Craig Clarke about bringing him to Crabble as goalkeeping coach.

Clarke, who was Chatham Town's goalkeeping coach last season, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk , "I've had a chat with the gaffa and he wants me. It needs to be approved by the chairman. I'll have the answer Tuesday when we play Maidstone."

Quotes courtesy of BBC Radio Kent - 96.7fm - 104.2fm - www.bbc.co.uk/kent

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com

Maidstone United v Dover Athletic

Pre-Season Friendly

Tuesday 14th July 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At The Homelands, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ