Dover boss Mitch Brundle has been given the nod to sign a centre-forward.

Brundle gave the update after Whites’ 1-0 National South defeat at Maidstone last night.

The visitors - 16 games without a league win and five points from safety - produced plenty of effort but rarely looked like troubling Stones keeper Lucas Covolan.

It’s been a problem all season for struggling Athletic who are the second-lowest scorers in the division with 18 goals in 18 games.

It’s clear what’s required and Brundle says chairman Jim Parmenter has told him to go out and get his man - hopefully this week.

“We can bring someone in, we’re just trying to find the right one, and one location-wise we can do,” said Brundle.

“There’s all different aspects to getting one in but we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to get one.

“We’ve had games this season where if we had a goalscorer we wouldn’t be in the position we are so it’s taking a lot longer.

“The chairman’s allowing us to go and get one so we will get one and that’s definitely what I’m going to do.”

He added: “Our main concern is the centre-forward.

“We are continuously looking and, touch wood, I pray my contacts will help me this week because there’s a centre-forward I really want to go for - and I’ve gone for him - and hopefully that can be over the line ready for Saturday.”

Report: Maidstone 1-0 Dover

Dover conceded the only goal three minutes before half-time as their wait for both a win and a clean sheet drags on.

They were defensively sound, only looking vulnerable at the death while chasing an equaliser.

“We need to catch a break, don’t we?” said Brundle.

“We need something to fall to us.

“We need a ricocheted goal or something to break us out of the cycle. I thought we did everything.

“We defended really well in certain aspects.

“Obviously the game gets stretched late on and they start to have their chances because we’re throwing everything to go and get a goal but we just haven’t got the goalscorer yet.

“I’m proud of the boys even though it is a defeat in a Kent derby which does really hurt me.

“I don’t enjoy going home when we haven’t won - I don’t even enjoy draws at the minute.

“A goalscorer I know for a fact will change what we’re doing this season (and) I’m still looking to bring other players in.

“We’re just trying to strengthen in every way we can and we’re allowed to do so.

“It means players will have to move on because they haven’t done it so far this season, so we are getting there, we have got the targets.”

Brundle has revenge on his mind when Dover host Weymouth in the FA Trophy Second Round this Saturday (3pm).

The Terras’ 2-0 victory on the final day of last season almost sent Brundle’s side down - surviving on goal difference.

Weymouth also won 3-1 at Crabble in September.

Brundle said: “I’ll always want to have revenge against Weymouth, from the last game of last season.

“Getting beat, they could have sent us down, so I’ll get the boys firing and ready to win that game.”