Jake Leberl would like to keep “quite a few” of Dover’s players next season if he remains in charge - despite the club’s inevitable relegation from National League South.

Whites were held to a goalless draw at home to second-bottom side Havant on Saturday - failing to maximise a numerical advantage in the closing stages – after last Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at third-bottom Eastbourne.

Dover could have relegation confirmed this Saturday when they host Farnborough, dependent on midweek results.

Leberl is still eager to have a big finish to the season, however, and build some momentum after a miserable couple of campaigns at Crabble.

“It’s massive,” he said. “Football is all about momentum.

“Obviously, we don’t know where we are going to be in terms of who’s going to stay and who’s going to go.

“We would like to keep quite a few of the boys, if I’m honest, and try to build a spine around them.

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“Whether that will happen or not, we don’t know [yet] for obvious reasons.”

Leberl would like to start planning for next term, although doing so is easier said than done.

“You try - but it’s difficult,” he said. “A lot of the boys have got agents and want to see what happens with other clubs.

“We can just say that we would like to keep them and, hopefully, we can.”

Asked if he’d had any discussions with chairman Jim Parmenter about his own future, Leberl replied: “We’re both quite relaxed about it.

“Like I’ve said to Jim, I’ve come back to do the best that I can. But Jim will make a decision over what he does, moving forward and what will be, will be.”

Dover looked the more likely to win against Havant, and maybe should have done so after away defender Devante Stanley was dismissed for a second caution on 75 minutes.

Leberl, who gave ex-Welling and Harrow winger Kamon-Sherrell Assidjo a cameo substitute appearance, explained why he hadn’t gone all-out for a late winning goal.

He said: “It’s a difficult position.

“We could have had a massive gamble, thrown on some extra bodies to try to win it and ended up losing it. People might say ‘Well, why didn’t you do that?’.

“But this club has been on a downturn around losing games for so long. It’s not like a tap - you cannot turn it on and off.

“You have got to build performances, results - not losing games - and try to get some boys in to take the chances and get the goals to make us start winning games.”

With Dover set to return to Isthmian League football for the first time in 15 years, Leberl reflected: “There’s so much doom and gloom around this place and on social media.

“We have got to try and put a stop to that. I know that the only way we’re going to do that is through performances.

“There’s no lack of effort. The boys could down tools - which they haven’t - everyone came off knackered on Saturday.”

Whites did collect a second successive point against Havant, though, as Reading loanee Matthew Rowley kept a clean sheet.

He made a fine stoppage-time save after making his Dover debut at Eastbourne when George Nikaj netted.

Leberl noted: “He’s done very well. He’s calm and plays like he’s a lot older than he is. He’s a good kicker of the ball.”

He also explained the decision to allow youth-team product attacker Archie Hatcher to join Faversham on loan.

Leberl said: “I just felt he needed to get some games. He’s a great lad.

“He’ll be here next year and, hopefully, he will get more of an opportunity.”