We need to get back on track - Hessenthaler

Thursday 04th February 2010

DOVER ATHLETIC boss Andy Hessenthaler says the club might struggle to turn full-time because of the club’s location, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Kent club have lost to two full-time clubs in Woking and Stevenage Borough in the last couple of weeks and turning full-time is the club’s goal in the long run.

Hessenthaler was given the target of returning to the top-flight of non-league football inside five seasons, but back-to-back titles has taken the club to it’s current level.

Saturday’s trip to Bath City in Blue Square South will be the club’s fourth successive away game and they then play another two away games before welcoming Maidenhead United to Crabble on 20th February.

Hessenthaler, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after his side were dumped out of the FA Carlsberg Trophy by Blue Square Premier leaders (and holders) Stevenage Borough last weekend, knows what it will take for Dover Athletic to turn full-time.

He said: “I think if you can get to this stage where Stevenage are and start attracting players on a full-time basis, then it will help but again not being disrespectful to Dover, because I love the club, but it’s where it’s situated.

“It’s very hard to actually attract players down in Dover. We’ve done it for the last two years with two bits of success. This year we’re going well still. We’re still attracting good players but it’s very difficult to get more and more quality players to the club because where the place is.

“They’ve always had problems but we are getting better players in. We’ve got a good bunch of players at the club anyway but if we’re going to get up to the next level we’ve got to improve the squad and be stronger.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Hessenthaler added, “A good test for us. We’ve lost our last two now, one in the league and one in the cup so we need to get back on track.”

Visit Dover Athletic’s websites: www.doverathletic.com & www.dafctv.co.uk

Bath City v Dover Athletic

Blue Square South

Saturday 6th February 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Twerton Park, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1DB