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Dover Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter on club’s budget, Adam Birchall’s pre-season Crabble return with Arsenal under-18s and Whites partnership with Chislehurst Glebe

Chairman Jim Parmenter admits Dover have upped the budget ahead of their National League South return - even if it leaves them some way short of the division’s top spenders.

Whites have been planning for the 2025/26 season after they enjoyed Isthmian Premier play-off glory.

Dover chairman Jim Parmenter. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Dover chairman Jim Parmenter. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Boss Jake Leberl has kept hold of the majority of his squad, as well as signing striker Decarrey Sheriff, defenders Jalen Jones and Harry Beadle, along with versatile midfielder Momodou Jallow.

Parmenter said: “We have been fortunate in that we have had some great support from our sponsors.

“Season-ticket sales have been very good, as well, so we have been able to push the budget up a little bit. But we’re still not anywhere near the biggest spenders in the league.

“There’s eight full-time teams in the league so we’re probably only about mid-table in terms of the budget.”

Guyana international Jones, a 6ft 7in player, who has been coached by Whites No.2 and Academy manager Mike Sandmann at Crystal Palace previously, arrives from Oxford City and Jallow has been handed a chance at Step 2 after he shone with Southern League Central side FC Marlow.

Dover assistant manager Mike Sandmann - has previously worked with summer signing defender Jalen Jones at Crystal Palace. Picture: Randolph File
Dover assistant manager Mike Sandmann - has previously worked with summer signing defender Jalen Jones at Crystal Palace. Picture: Randolph File

“I think the squad is pretty much done and dusted,” said Parmenter.

“There might still be some movement but we’re getting towards the top-end of our budget.

“We have got a squad of 20 now and they’re all capable of being starters.”

Academy graduates Essa Jadama, Tristan Holden and Jake McCarthy have also signed Dover first-team terms, as has fellow youth-team product forward Rolando Onu.

Onu will spend the season dual-registered with Sheppey, defender Jadama and defensive midfielder Holden at Whitstable, and defender McCarthy at Sutton Athletic.

Adam Birchall - made a Crabble comeback with Arsenal under-18s at the weekend. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Adam Birchall - made a Crabble comeback with Arsenal under-18s at the weekend. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Parmenter said: “We have had the Academy for a number of years.

“The higher you go, the harder it is to give them regular first-team football, but at least four of our first-team squad are from the Academy.

“We’re never going to put it to one side.”

Dover continued their run of warm-up matches with last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over an Arsenal under-18s team in a match that saw former Whites fans’ favourite Adam Birchall make a Crabble comeback.

Luke Baptiste and substitute Francis Mampolo - from the penalty spot - claimed the hosts’ goals.

Rolando Onu - has signed for Dover again but will spend the season on dual registration at Sheppey. Picture: Marc Richards
Rolando Onu - has signed for Dover again but will spend the season on dual registration at Sheppey. Picture: Marc Richards

“It was a good day,” Parmenter said, with Whites also having played Gillingham and Deal in friendlies.

“We have had three good home friendlies where we have had more than 3,000 people attend over the three friendlies now. They have been good games and things have gone very well.

“There were some Arsenal fans on Saturday - likewise, there have been away fans at the other games - and we’ll have to wait and see what happens when the real action starts.

“But everything is looking very positive.”

Birchall netted 45 times in his second of two campaigns at Dover before he left and signed for Gillingham for an undisclosed fee in 2011.

Dover’s long-serving chairman said: “Birch has got a fondness for Dover and Dover has got a fondness for him.

“Him bringing that team down was recognition of that relationship. Basically, everybody knows everybody, and even some of the other staff knew each other.

“It was a nice little get-together.”

Whites will start their National League South season at home against fellow newly-promoted team AFC Totton on Saturday, August 9, before trips to Bath (August 16) and Eastbourne (August 19).

They then host Salisbury on Saturday, August 23, visit Torquay two days later and finish August at home against Maidenhead on Saturday, August 30.

“It will be interesting to see what happens,” said Parmenter.

“We have got Torquay on a Bank Holiday. That will be an interesting challenge, as well.

"So, we’ll have a look at how we prepare for that.”

Parmenter also commented on their new partnership with Chislehurst Glebe.

The link-up will see Whites utilising Foxbury Avenue - the Southern Counties East League Premier Division side’s home - as one of the club’s training venues.

“It’s all part of trying to improve all the time,” said Parmenter.

“We have got our way of doing things but, if we can do things to improve - like the relationship with Glebe - we’ll continue to do it. It’s not just about the side on the pitch.

“It’s about trying to improve in all aspects.”

Whites will play Southern League Premier Division South Bracknell this weekend before Tuesday’s visit of neighbours Folkestone.

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