Captain James Dunne has left Dover - for another team in Kent.

Dunne will now be playing for Chatham, a team challenging for promotion to National League South, as opposed to one battling to stay in that division.

The 34-year-old former Exeter, Stevenage, Portsmouth, Cambridge United and Swindon midfielder made his last Whites appearance off the substitutes’ bench in the final stages of last weekend’s 1-0 success against Slough.

On Friday morning, a Dover spokesman said: “We can confirm the departure of midfielder James Dunne.

“We would like to thank Dunne for his efforts this season and wish him the best for the future.”

He had been on the substitutes’ bench for Dover’s last two fixtures, making his final start for the Crabble club as they were beaten 1-0 at promotion-chasing Torquay last month.

John Oyenuga appears the most likely man to be given the captain’s armband by Whites boss Jake Leberl now.

But, with the experienced right-back recently involved in a car-crash, fellow defender Jacob Mensah has led the side in their last two games.

Dunne could make his debut for Kevin Hake’s Chats at Whitehawk this Saturday while Dover travel to Braintree.