The chance to rejoin forces with Andy Hessenthaler after more than decade was all the motivation Stuart Lewis needed to join Dover Athletic from Maidstone United.

Lewis, who was captain at the Gallagher Stadium, handed in a transfer request last week and by Thursday had signed a two-year contract at Crabble.

Hessenthaler tried to bring Lewis to Eastleigh in the summer and now the pair, who played together at Barnet in 2006-07, are back in tandem.

Lewis said: “I made my league debut next to Hess in midfield and he’s someone who I hugely respect in the game.

“At this stage in my career, he was someone I wanted to work for and play under so it was an opportunity I wanted to take up.

“He had an excellent career, full of energy and enthusiasm, and they’re attributes I portray.

“I nearly joined Hess in the summer at Eastleigh but the location was tough.

“I decided I wanted to stay at Maidstone with Jay Saunders and attack it there but things happen quick in football.

“It was a whirlwind week with a lot going on but it was good to finish it with a positive result and a good performance at Harrogate.”

Lewis, who also played with Whites coach Nicky Southall at Gillingham, was Maidstone’s player-of-the-year in 2016-17 having won the same award at Ebbsfleet the previous season.

He said: “The support I got from both sets of fans was second to none and hopefully I can have the same impact at Dover.

“It’s a good club and the supporters were excellent on Saturday. Everyone’s in it together and the manager has reiterated that it’s going to be a collective push, not just from the players but everyone.”

Lewis made his Dover debut in the 2-2 draw at Harrogate on Saturday.

He said: “We played well. We pinned them back in the second half and the front boys were excellent.

“Before the game we’d have taken a point but in the circumstances, it was disappointing to concede late.

“Sometimes you don’t get what your performances deserve. We have to be hard to beat, work hard. It’s a tough task but something we’re capable of doing.”