WITH Dover Athletic's play-off heartache still fresh in the memory, manager Clive Walker has wasted no time in beginning his preparations for next season’s campaign.

He has now announced his retained list, while also finding time to sit down and sign his own one-year contract at Crabble.

Influential midfielder Danny Chapman has signed a two-year deal as player-coach, while Whites have agreed fresh contracts with Nick Humphrey, Craig Wilkins, Daniel Braithwaite, Tom Hickman, Darren Smith and James Rogers.

Only Braithwaite's deal is subject to a scan on his injured knee.

The club is releasing Michael Smissen, Dave Clifford, Kevin Lott and Paul Hyde.

Walker said: "I have said all along that Dover Athletic was going to need a massive rebuild. I believe this team is already developing well, and it’s a marked improvement on the side I inherited in January 2005.

"Because most of the squad are already contracted I only need to add one or two players this summer, and that’s a lot better situation than having to chase after seven or eight."

* Keep up to date with Whites news every week in the Dover Mercury.