Chris Kinnear is concentrating on quality rather than quantity as he rebuilds his Dover Athletic squad.

Nicky Forster, his predecessor as Whites manager, started last season’s campaign with more than 20 players but Kinnear insisted: “I don’t want a big squad because I don’t want players sitting about and not playing.

“The squad is going to be quite small and I’m looking for quality rather than quantity. I am after young, hungry players who want to play for Dover Athletic and the supporters.”

Kinnear’s squad is already much reduced from the one which ended last season following a busy past few weeks in which 10 players have left the club, with Ebbsfleet United the most popular destination.

Calum Willock and Steve Thomson were the two latest to depart in the past week – although neither yet has a new club – leaving Kinnear with 11 players signed on but the Dover boss remains more than content with the way his close season business is progressing.

He said: “I don’t want to waste what is a competitive budget early and it’s important we all get value for money.

“Also I don’t want to have a big difference in the wages that the players are earning.
“Both the board and myself want a wage structure where the spread of the players’ wages is fairly close.”

The Dover players report back for their first pre-season training session on Saturday ahead of the opening friendly at home to Dagenham & Redbridge the following Saturday and Kinnear is hoping that goalkeeper Mitch Walker and midfielder Barry Cogan will have accepted new contract offers by the weekend.