Chairman Jim Parmenter says Dover can improve on their record-breaking season next year – particularly if they strengthen the squad this summer.

Mr Parmenter was philosophical after seeing his side beaten 2-1 by Forest Green over two legs of the National League play-off semi-finals but predicted Whites would come back stronger.

He said: “We had a real go. Luck didn’t quite go our way. We had plenty of chances in the game.

“I thought we deserved to win but that’s life. The damage was done in the first leg (which Whites lost 1-0), to be honest.

“I thought we were the better side. It’s a great effort and we’ll go again next season.”

Mr Parmenter said Dover had achieved their pre-season goal, adding: “We said we wanted to get to the play-offs, we got there. Once you’re in them you never know...

“This has got to be a great achievement for a club the size of Dover – if you think of the budget Forest Green have got, you’re in the millions and we’ve just given them a game – we’ve basically outplayed them in an important game.

“If we can keep our heads together, most of the boys together and strengthen a little bit in the summer, we can come back stronger next year and can do as well, if not better.

“How can you not say it’s been a good season for a team with our resources.

“We are a young team – they’ll learn, the ones that are staying – quite a lot of them have already signed-on – they’ll get better next season. We’ll strengthen and move on again.”