DOVER Athletic chairman Mick Kemp is convinced that the club’s long-term future can only be secured by producing their own local talent.

As more and more clubs admit they are in financial difficulties, Kemp insisted: “The way things are going in football, the only way a lot of clubs are going to be able survive is by producing their own players.

“There just isn’t the money around any more to go out and buy players, and so clubs like ourselves must make sure we have got an established youth set-up. That’s where the future lies: finding and developing our own players.”

Kemp cites the example of Dean Readings, who has claimed a regular first-team place this season after coming through the youth and reserve team ranks.

And Dover this week showed their faith in two other promising youngsters by signing central defender Craig Cloke and midfielder Danny Welch on one-year contracts, with the pledge that they will not have to wait long for a first-team opportunity.

Kemp, who is hopeful that striker Michael Smissen will also sign a one-year deal, added: “I have promised Craig and Danny that they will get games in the first team before the end of the season, and also be involved in the pre-season matches.

“If they prove they are up to the job, they will then be offered an extended contract, the same as Dean Readings.”

Cloke, Welch and Smissen all came through the club’s PACE youth development scheme, which will be reintroduced next season. It had to be dropped for this season because of the groundsharing arrangement with Margate.

The chairman’s long-term goal is for Dover Athletic to be made up of Kent-based players, most from the Dover area.

“I think we can find and develop players who are good enough to play at this level,’ he added, “and the advantage of having a local player is that he knows he has got to walk down the street after the game, so he has got to give it his best shot.

“I want to sign players who want to play for Dover, and there are disadvantages about signing players who live a long way from here. You have to pay them more money, plus travelling expenses, and then they don’t come training.

“Call me old fashioned if you like, but to me, if you don’t train with your team-mates then how can you play with them on a Saturday?”

With Kemp and fellow board members still struggling to secure fresh sponsorshipfor the club, producing local talent increasingly looks like the only viable way forward.

But for the present, Whites must focus on achieving as high a final position in the Dr Martens League table as possible against the background of the proposed restructuring in non-league football.

The next assignment for Clive Walker’s men is at Chelmsford on Saturday, followed by Tuesday evening’s trip to Havant & Waterlooville.

Chelmsford still need points to ensure survival, but produced a good performance at Crabble in October and were unlucky to lose

1-0. They gained revenge by knocking Dover out of the Dr Martens League Cup in December.

Tuesday looks a good time to meet Havant, with the fixture wedged between the Hampshire side’s two FA Trophy semi-final legs against Tamworth.