Dover Athletic manager Andy Hessenthaler is entering his first full season in charge of the club since 2010, and he has big aspirations for the campaign ahead.

 

He initially took control of the dugout at Crabble in 2007, but left when the job at Priestfield became available.

“We’re in it to win it” said the 53-year-old.

“We all know that we’re not going to be on the (level) of teams that have spent loads and loads of money – there are 10 ex league clubs in our division this year. It’s going to be a tough one, but I think we have built a squad of quality, and that real unity that can go on and have a really good season.

“Organisation is what we’re still working on, but the biggest thing is fitness and we’re getting close to where we want to be.”

Hessenthaler also spoke of pre-season as a concept, as well as how he feels this term’s preparation has gone at Dover.

“I used to like it because I used to like running, so it didn’t really hurt me.

“I could run all day, but a lot of the players nowadays don’t like it. The games I don’t like at times because it’s just for fitness.

“We have had to use the one up front for most of pre-season” mentioned Hessenthaler.

“We lost Jay Reason for a couple of games; he plays that 10 role with the 2 up which gave us a lot of success last year

“There’s a plan A and a B, maybe a C in games.

“I think you’ve just got to be able to adapt to different shapes and what we’ve done in pre-season.

“We’ll know our shape, but every game brings a different challenge that could be a different shape.”

Dover announced the latest additions to Hessentaler’s squad on Tuesday – right back Aaron Simpson and midfielder Bilal Hinchiri – and the manager was chuffed to get them through the door.

“I wasn’t really looking for those positions really” Hessenthaler added.

“We were a bit short in the right back area, but I have got a lot of midfield players.”

“They’re the type of players you just can’t let go. To be fair to the chairman, he’s squeezed a bit more out of the budget, and we’ve been able to bring them in.

“I know Aaron Simpson really well anyway from his Maidstone days. He’s athletic, he’s strong, so there’s good competition there which we need.

“He had a few options to go out trialing. He came into us and no one could make their mind up on him, so I’ve convinced him to sign for us for a year and hopefully longer.

“The boy from France (Hinchiri) just came through an agent. He’s come in the building and I think he looks impressive.

“He’s getting to know the English game. His English isn’t great but we’re working with him; we’re fortunate we’ve got another French boy in there, Nassim N’Ghoul, who speaks very good English so that helps, but I think he’s a bit of a find.

“He can only get better once he understands the game. He’s only 23 so were over the moon with him.

“I’ve been lucky with agents, we’ve been lucky with the French boys. I know a few people that work with players in France and over the years we’ve had a few.

“Nine times out of ten we send them (trialists) away but this one’s come up and he’s a bit of a gem I think.”

Whilst pleased with his additions to his squad this summer, Hessenthaler admitted that Dover’s business in the transfer market is probably done.

“I think so at the moment” said the former midfielder. “The chairman has said there’s no more money left!

“We did business quite early. The one thing I did want to do in the off season was to make sure that we can get our business done, get our squad together, and then we can start working with them from day one coming back for pre-season.

“Sometimes, if you don’t get them in then they come in halfway through pre-season or near the end it’s difficult, so that’s what we did, and the chairman agreed with that.

“We’ve been able to do some good business and (signed) some good players that have played at league level and this level. It’s a good squad.

“We’ve got a squad of 22 now, probably more than I thought I was going to have. I thought I was looking at about 18/20, but I can’t let those types of players go.”

“I like the age group we’ve got. We worked out tonight we’ve got an average age of 25 so I think that’s a good age. I remember when I first went into Eastleigh I had an average age of over 30.

“We’ve got experience, but the average age is 25. I think that’s a real good age for us and we have got some young ones as well coming through. All bodes well that the academy is doing well but we’re looking forward to the season.”

Although happy with his squad, Hessenthaler claimed he isn’t sure what his team will be come the opening weekend of the National League, when Dover travel to Chesterfield on August 3.

“I don’t really know too many at the moment” said Hessenthaler.

“There’s a couple that have probably cemented their place. There is good competition for places, but we’ll get there.

“I’m starting to know the shape and what we want to do. We’ve still got two more games (of pre-season) so by Monday we’ll get ready, go to Chesterfield and hopefully get a decent result.

“It took a bit of time last year, but we reaped the rewards in the end in terms of the way we finished.

“We had a good squad; I think we’ve got an even better squad this year. It’s a tough league – we’re not underestimated but we’re full of confidence that we can have a decent season.”