Malta international Sam Magri has explained his decision to leave Dover and sign for their Kent rivals Ebbsfleet.

The 23-year-old spent two years with Whites and was offered a new deal but on Friday followed the majority of last season’s squad through the exit door.

The defender is now set to play at Crabble but against Dover in the National League on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28, after agreeing a deal with Fleet boss and former Whites player Daryl McMahon.

He played in Dover’s last game of the season, the Kent Senior Cup final on May 1, but said: “We didn’t hear anything for a few weeks.

“Myself and the other boys got letters in the post with (contract) offers and that was it.

“The first year I was there, I spoke with the manager and the chairman and signed my new deal before the season finished but this year was a little bit different.

“Maybe it’s just the way they prefer to do it.”

Magri was soon linked with several different clubs including a League 1 side, believed to be Swindon, free-spending Ryman League side Billericay and a team in the Scottish Premier Division.

He said: “I had to be quite patient. There were a few different things that didn’t come off so I went away with Malta and concentrated on that.

“It’s been the busiest summer I’ve ever had, with my stag do, wedding and honeymoon. I’ve had a lot on the go.”

Magri only learned of Fleet’s interest last Thursday and said: “It was quick. I know Nathan Ashmore, the goalkeeper, so I messaged him and spoke to the manager.

“They’re full-time and train in the mornings. That was a big part of why I was interested.

“There’s no right or wrong way. We had two successful seasons at Dover when we were training in the evenings but I needed to go full-time.

“I spoke with my wife, my family and my agent and we just thought it would be good to go full-time.

“Everyone thinks you go to Ebbsfleet for one reason but not everyone knows the stuff behind it.

“I don’t want to talk about money because I know I’ll just get shot down again. Me and my family, we know the facts, so that’s all the bothers me. As long as we know what’s going on, what everyone else thinks doesn’t really bother me.”

He added: “Me and my missus, we’ve got a place and I haven’t been getting paid for a couple of months so it’s been a little bit of a struggle.

“It’s nice to get settled down, know where I am and not have to worry about that any more.”

Dover’s first action of their pre-season schedule will be against Deal Town at the Charles Ground on Tuesday night (7.30pm)