OFFICIALS at Dover Athletic are having talks with a number of potential investors in a bid to keep the club alive. In the wake of Jim Gleeson's sudden resignation as chairman last week, along with that of fellow director Roger Knight, the club's general manager Bill Williams and commercial manager Dave Scoggins have been attempting to find backers.

Williams is eager to stress that, contrary to some media reports, the future of the club is still in doubt. He said: "The club is striving to find investors to make up the numbers required to form a new board of directors and, although we are cautiously optimistic about the future, there is still a lot of work to be done.

"Unfortunately, one potential investor, John Ullmann, feels that at his age he is unable to be involved. Talks are taking place with creditors and the bank with a view to see how they can help. The reaction to date has been positive."

Williams has been able to enlist four individuals who say they would be willing to serve as directors and is looking for two more investors to complete a six-man board which he feels would make the club viable.

Although the club are not revealing any identities at this stage, it is believed that Gleeson andf Knight are both prepared to return providing the club's financial position is more secure.

Meanwhile, Whites manager Gary Bellamy is concentrating his efforts on trying to lift the club out of the Conference relegation zone. His own position at Crabble will remain in doubt while the off-pitch machinations continue.