Dover have signed Connor Essam on loan from Eastleigh for the rest of the season.

Essam only joined Eastleigh from Leyton Orient in the close season but he looked set to move on once former Gills boss Martin Allen took over.

He captained Whites in his first spell at Crabble and rejoined them on loan at the end of last season from Orient.

The move comes as Dover boss Chris Kinnear tries to turn around his team's recent poor form.

Dover last kept a clean sheet in the 6-0 win against Sutton at the end of November.

They have won just one of their last six games and been knocked out of the FA Trophy by lower-league Dartford since, and they now trail leaders Lincoln by six points having played two games more.

Essam, 24, started his career at Gillingham and has also played for Dartford, Crawley and Luton.