Manny Parry is excited for the challenge that awaits him at Dover and is looking forward to competing at the top end of the table.

The centre-back joined the Whites last week after a six-month spell at Braintree, who were relegated from the National League while Dover secured a second straight top-six finish.

After signing a one-year deal at Crabble, Parry has backed his new team to again push for the promotion places.

He said: “I’d rather be competing at the top of the table and I’m looking forward to the challenge. The club have been consistent and pushing near the top, credit to the manager and the management for that.”

One of Parry’s 23 appearances for Town following his signing in November came in Dover’s 2-1 win in Essex in April. Parry had previously spent four months at Margate after his release by Maidstone, for whom he made 46 appearances in their

2015-16 National League South promotion campaign.

He said: “I heard of Dover’s interest a couple of weeks ago, I met the manager and spoke to (assistant) Jake Leberl.

“I played against Dover at the end of the season and know a lot about the club from my time at Maidstone. I played with Mitch Pinnock there so I know someone there at least.”

Pinnock and Parry are two of just six senior players currently on the books at Crabble, with returning keeper Mitch Walker joined in the squad by new arrivals Kane Richards from Chester, Mitch Brundle from Gateshead and Jamie Allen from Southport.

Despite the upheaval in manager Chris Kinnear’s squad this summer, with pretty much the entire first team squad either released or opting to move on, Parry remained positive, saying: “I’m not worried at all. The manager knows what he’s doing. I am sure he’ll bring in some quality players.”

Dover’s pre-season preparations begin on Thursday with some testing and Parry – who came through the youth ranks at Millwall – said: “I am looking forward to getting going. I am sick of having nothing to do on a Saturday.”