Our aspirations are to do very well, says Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear

DOVER ATHLETIC manager Chris Kinnear says he is going in to the new season to win the Conference South title.


Kinnear and his assistant Jake Leberl took over from Nicky Forster in January 2013 and guided the club to a third-placed finish in Conference South last season.

The Whites defeated Eastleigh in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the play-off semi-finals, but they fell at the final hurdle when they went down to a 3-2 extra-time defeat away to runners-up Salisbury City, who joined champions Welling United in the Conference Premier.

Dover Athletic kick-off their nine-match pre-season campaign when League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge visit Crabble on Saturday afternoon.

The Essex side narrowly escaped relegation on goal-difference last season and came away from Ryman League Division One South side Whitstable Town with a 4-0 win last weekend.

Kinnear is looking forward to the opening test against Wayne Burnett’s side.

He said: “We’ve done two sessions so we’re starting slowly and just building up to the first league game.”

When asked what he wants from the game, the Dover Athletic boss said: “Just to get everyone going.  It’s probably a little bit early to be totally honest. We’d have only done three training sessions, but that was the only time we could play Dagenham so I said yes we’ll definitely play them so we’ve got a game.  If Dagenham want to play you, you can’t say no really.”

Dover Athletic have reduced admission prices to £5 to entice people through the turnstiles during pre-season.

Kinnear said: “That was the main reason we’ve got a few home games so that the fans’ can get to meet the players’ and the players’ can meet the fans in the social club afterwards so it’s all part of getting everybody working together.

“I think this year we’re trying to get it as a close club and hopefully we’ll reap the benefits out of that.”

Kinnear wants his new squad to be fit and raring to go in time for the new league season.

“Obviously fitness, which is obvious, but getting a good team spirit and getting a pattern of play. We want two patterns of play so we’ve got a plan B occasionally.

“There’s a lot of new players’ and getting them used to each other really and it gives us a chance to look at players’ for the coming season.”

When asked whether he has finalised his squad going into the new season, Kinnear replied, “No. There will be a lot more movement between now and then so hopefully we can get a decent side together.”

The Conference published their league fixtures at 11 o’clock this morning and Dover Athletic will travel to promoted Gosport Borough on the opening day of the season (17 August), before Steve Brown brings his familiar Ebbsfleet United side back to Crabble three days later.

Looking forward to their trip to Hampshire, Kinnear explained why the game will be a tough encounter.

“Playing anyone that have been promoted is not ideal in a way because they’re all full of confidence and got the expectation and they’re going to be running around because they’re pleased to be in the league above,” said Kinnear.

“It’s not going to be an easy league because we’ve got to win with what we’ve got.”

But it’s the home showdown against The Fleet that is the game that Dover Athletic’s fans are looking forward to the most.

The Stonebridge Road club finished second-from-bottom in the Conference Premier under former boss Liam Daish last season and have been splashing the cash under new owners during the summer and Brown has enticed many former Dover Athletic players to the club.

Kinnear said: “A lot of those players did well for me and the club when we turned up in January.  We only lost one league game so they’re decent players.

“I’m glad it’s at home because the supporters will look forwards to that one really and the supporters’ now are getting used to exciting games and that will be an exciting game.

“After the semi-final and the penalty shoot-out in the play-offs that’s what we’re trying to do, is to make football exciting when they come down to the Crabble and I’m sure there will be a lot more really looking forward to enjoying it.

Kinnear would like HIS team to be successful and give Ebbsfleet United a run for their money this season.

“You all set out to try and win it. Our aspirations are to do very well,” said the former Margate boss.

“We only lost one league game from January – I’d like to do that again but I don’t think that’s realistic. 

“It is important to win as many games as we can and be up there and get ourselves up there and we’ll see where we are from then.

“I expect to win every game but it doesn’t matter who you are, you don’t win every game.”

“A lot of them are young lads. The average age has gone down a bit so they’re there to lean and progress and hopefully they’ll progress with us.”

Kinnear wants to bring excitement to the faithful at Crabble.

“That’s what Dover is all about, I’d like to think, a bit of excitement for the supporters,” he said.

“It’s easy to be mundane going through the season, but I’d like to think we’d be playing for everything and trying to win every game.”

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

Dover Athletic  v Dagenham & Redbridge
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 6^th July 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB