Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler has pulled off a coup by persuading former Wales Under-21 international Adam Birchall to sign for the Whites on a two-year contract.

Birchall was released by Barnet at the end of last season and watched his former team-mates play Dover in a friendly at Crabble on Saturday.

The 24-year-old former Arsenal trainee comes from Maidstone and Hessenthaler said: "We are delighted to attract someone of Adam's calibre to the club.

"He is a defender's nightmare. He never gives them a moment's peace and gives us something very different up front.

"It took him a little bit of time to get his head round going part-time but he now is very happy to have joined us."

Dover are also hoping to sign former Gillingham and Nottingham Forest midfielder Nicky Southall, who played the full 90 minutes of Whites' 2-1 defeat by Barnet.

But Hessenthaler cautioned: "Nicky will only sign for us if he doesn't join a league club. He likes it here but at the moment he's working on keeping fit."