DOVER Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter has found himself in the unusual position of having to defend the record of his manager, whose team are currently top of the league.

The Ryman League Division 1 table shows Clive Walker’s side still leading the way on goal difference from Horsham with 35 points from 16 matches.

But despite that situation, Walker and his team have received flak from some fans on the club’s official website for their style of play, which they claim isn’t good enough, either in terms of results or entertainment, with one punter going so far as to claim that the Dover boss should be sacked.

Although most will treat the latter suggestion as little more than a joke, Mr Parmenter was struggling to see the funny side of things.

He said: "I cannot believe I am in a position of defending Clive’s tactics and the team’s chances of winning promotion while we are sitting on top of the table.

"There is so much negativity. It hits gates, it projects a bad feeling and people read it and they get hurt by these comments. And then for one fan to suggest that Clive should be sacked is bonkers.

"Everyone said how the club should never have got rid of him a couple of years ago. Now some want him out. It’s sheer madness."