THE need for Clive Walker to strengthen his Dover Athletic squad has reached a critical level following the departure of striker Paul Armstrong, and the likely exit of utility man Dean Palmer.

Armstrong, who has been impressive since joining the Whites in November and scored six times, has been snapped up by promotion-chasing Billericay Town after they put in a seven-day approach, while Palmer is expected to join league leaders Yeading after recently turning down a move to East Thurrock.

Walker admitted he was disappointed but not surprised by their departures, saying: "We offered them a very good contract until the end of next season but they felt that they would like to move on, and as they are on week-to-week contracts we cannot stop them from going.

"They both live near London and, considering we don’t know what league we will be playing in next season, they have taken that option but we just need to move on and try and strengthen the squad."

Walker has been boosted, however, by the news that Daniel Braithwaite, Jude Stirling, Stuart Maynard and Victor Renner have all decided to stay least until the end of the season.

But Walker admitted: "It’s important we strengthen. We need to get one or two players in now to give us a chance of staying up - the real team building will have to be done in the summer.

"I'd like to bring players who I know and trust but managers are not willing to let players go at this time of the season so it is proving difficult, but I am confident I will have least one signing ahead of Saturday, with a midfielder a priority.

"I like my sides to have physically strong characters, which I have, but experience is also crucial and apart from Paul (Hyde) and Matty (Carruthers) we have players who have not got a great deal of games under their belt."