Dover keeper Mitch Walker trusts manager Chris Kinnear to assemble a squad at Crabble which will make them even better than they were last season.

Whites have seen almost every player who achieved a second straight top-six finish in the National League last season either released or reject new deals in favour of a move elsewhere.

Only Walker and midfielder Mitch Pinnock remain on the books from last season’s first team picture.

However, three new faces have already signed in the form of former Southport striker Jamie Allen, ex-Chester frontman Kane Richards and utility man Mitch Brundle, who was at Gateshead last term.

The 25-year-old Walker – who joined Whites from Brighton in 2012 and has made 141 appearances – said: “This is the first time in my five years at Dover that we have been in this position but we have to put our trust in the management.

"We have signed some quality players and I have no doubt we will pick up plenty more.

“We have improved every season I have been here, even though we finished a place lower last season, I’m sure we can try to put that right and progress again this year. We want to improve on sixth.

“Last season we were disappointed we didn’t make the play-offs. When I signed I was told the aim is to get back into the play-offs again this season and if possible, to go one better and get promoted.”

Fans have voiced concern at a perceived lack of transfer activity at Crabble, especially after seeing 40-goal Ricky Miller sign for Peterborough, skipper Jamie Grimes move to Cheltenham and Ross Lafayette and Ricky Modeste head elsewhere.

Walker admitted: “You normally have a few new faces in pre-season, although the majority will be this year.

“There is certainly no need to panic though, we have plenty of time to build a strong squad.”