Martin Hayes says Dover Athletic won't be affected by the pressure of being favourites to win Blue Square Bet South this season.

Despite having overseen just one friendly game in charge at Crabble, Hayes has seen Dover installed as 5/1 favourites by bookmakers to land the title after finishing second last season.

Hayes (pictured) said: "Of course we want to do well but this is something out of our control. This won’t change anything. This is all talk on paper and paper never wins you the league.

"We will do the best we can do but we won’t worry about being favourites. I doubt Newport were the favourites last year.

"There are four or five teams which will be up there and any one of them could go on and win it."

Hayes said he was keen to see ‘the natural progression’ of pre-season continue after the 2-0 home defeat to League 1 Colchester on Saturday as Whites prepare to visit Faversham on Saturday before hosting Maidstone on Tuesday.

Hayes said: "Everyone did well on Saturday but there was no pressure on anyone. That will change in the next two games. I want us to show improvement with every game."

He added: "It is hard to judge players on games like Saturday, when they are up against strong, well-organised, fitter players than they would face in non-league.

"The games against Faversham and Maidstone will give us the chance to have a look at them, see how they do when they are expected to dominate possession, create chances and score goals."