Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear welcomed his players back for pre-season training on Tuesday night with the message – the hard work starts here.

Kinnear said: “A couple of the lads looked sick and faint at one stage and had to take a break but the majority handled it impressively.

“Nobody looked out of shape at all – they all looked pretty fit to me and I know some have been working on it (their fitness) during the break which is great.

"I don’t think Murph (winger) Tom Murphy ever stops running, even when the football season is over.

"It was great to see them all again and get back down to business because the hard work starts now.”

Kinnear said the first session of the season was only for those players on contract.

He said: “There no invitees or trialists, they will get their chance to impress further down the track.

“This was just a chance for the lads from last season and Jamie (Kinnear’s lone signing so far, defender Jamie Grimes) to get together and start over.

“Jamie fitted in well like I knew he would – there was plenty of good banter.”

Kinnear’s squad will train three times a week until Whites fans will get their first look at the side when Whitehawk visit Crabble on Saturday, July 11 (3pm) for the opening friendly.

They also host Eastbourne Borough on July 14 (7.45pm) and Gillingham on July 25 (3pm).
Dover also travel to Wealdstone on July 18 (3pm), Bishop’s Stortford on July 28 (7.45pm) and Havant & Waterlooville on August 1 (3pm).

The Vanarama National League fixtures will be released next week, with the season starting on Saturday, August 8.

Kinnear is also looking for a new head physio to join his team following the departure of Paul Wilson.

Wilson, who worked with Kinnear at Margate before spending two seasons with Dover, has gone full-time at League 2 side Crawley Town.

Anyone qualified to fill the vacancy can send their CV to Dover chairman Jim Parmenter at jim.parmenter@doverathletic.com