Martin Hayes says the pressure to achieve success with Dover Athletic next season was a major factor in deciding the club’s retained list.

The club have released striker Elliott Charles, winger Sam Long and midfield duo Joe Tabiri and Lewwis Spence with manager Hayes, who himself signed a new-one year deal this week, saying: "They are all good young players and I would liked to have had the chance to develop and nurture them over the next two or three years.

"But with the reaction I have been getting from some Dover fans, it is clear they won’t be prepared to give me that sort of time and so I will be looking to bring in some more experienced players for next season."

Eight players of this season’s squad have been offered new deals. The fact that Jon Wallis is included on the retained list could be regarded as something of a surprise because Hayes has not always seen eye to eye with the popular midfielder.

But the manager (pictured) insisted: "I know what Jon Wallis can offer us when he is fit and playing well but he just needs to do it a bit more often at this level."

Hayes added: "We hope everyone signs. We want to compete for the title next season and are looking to bring four or five more players in to bolster the squad to give us a much better chance.

"Now I have had a bit of time to step back and reflect on this season, I don’t think we did too bad.

"I knew at the start that the squad wasn’t good enough to win the league. But we brought in some new faces and changed the style and in the end we only ended up losing 12 times in 42 league games as well as getting to the third round of the FA Cup.

"I think that means there are a lot of good things to build on for next season."