Manager Mitch Brundle is hoping his patience pays off as Dover’s pre-season gathers pace.

Whites suffered a heavy home loss to Gillingham on Saturday – losing 4-0 - but boss Brundle fielded a different team in each half and included numerous trialists.

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While Brundle will look to keep the best of those on trial, he knows there will be other players filtering down from the levels above and wants to keep his options open.

He said: “There are always players out there that we are looking at. There will be better players released, we don’t want to sign too many too early.

“You can sign players and then when better ones become available you haven’t got the budget for it, so you have to manage the budget properly and sensibly.”

Three of Dover’s summer signings have departed already. Last season’s player-of-the-year Myles Judd has joined league rivals Hemel Hempstead Town, midfielder Ademola Shokunbi has dropped a level to play with Isthmian Premier Dulwich Hamlet and player-assistant Ricky Holmes is back with Farnborough after featuring in just one pre-season game.

Dover played host to Enfield Town last night (Tuesday), losing 2-0. They welcome Folkestone Invicta to Crabble this Saturday (3pm).

Those games give Brundle the chance to assess the hopefuls once more and he said: “That is what these games are for and now the minutes start ramping up. We start going to 60s and 30s for some, you start looking at your team, trialists coming in, signing some more players.

“There are a few where the trials stop happening for some in the top divisions, in the Conference they will have had two XIs for their first two games.

“They are out of the window now, a lot more players become available and recruitment is going to be key. We need to pick the best of the bunch and hopefully have a good season.”

Fitness levels will also be key and Brundle is keen to ensure his men will be a match for anyone.

He said: “I am putting the boys through a grim regime in pre-season because I want us to be fit. Some of the players have showcased themselves very well.

“You are more looking at these games for minutes in the legs than anything else but I thought we gave a good account of ourselves (on Saturday).

“It was a great workout for us against a side who, with Neil Harris in charge and what they’ve done behind the scenes with Kenny (Jackett) and Andy Hessenthaler, they have got a real good strong core behind the football club. I expect them to be right up there.”

The fixtures for the 2023/24 season came out last week. Dover will start their campaign on home soil when they welcome one of the National South promotion favourites Torquay.

“It’s a tough one but exciting,” said Brundle. “I am glad to get them early. Glad to have them here, hopefully it brings the crowd in, you have to play them at some point so why not first?

“It’s a great game for us to open the season and a lot of work to do before then.”