DOVER Athletic manager Clive Walker knows he has got until the end of the season to secure his future at Crabble.

With Whites’ hopes of achieving automatic promotion having virtually disappeared in the wake of the 3-2 home defeat by Hastings, their only escape route from Ryman League Division 1 now lies via the end-of-season play-offs.

And chairman Jim Parmenter, despite increasing calls from Whites fans for a change of manager, has made it clear that Walker will be given the chance to achieve that objective.

Mr Parmenter said: "The board have got confidence in Clive and his players, and we still think we have got a very good chance of promotion.

"It’s our job as directors to keep our heads when all around seem to be losing theirs, and to do what we feel is right for the football club.

"As I have said before, Dover Athletic have changed their manager seven times in the past five years, and where has it got the club? To keep changing your manager just doesn’t work, and Clive has got a proven track record as a manager."

But Walker is also a realist and must surely understand the probable consequences of Whites’ failing to achieve promotion.

He has received good financial support from the board over bringing in new players, but their patience is unlikely to extend into next season if Dover still find themselves in Ryman 1, which Mr Parmenter more or less confirmed.

He said: "Clive will not be sacked. We agreed a contract with Clive, which still has a few more months to run and we are going to honour that agreement."

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