Dover hope the six remaining members of this season’s squad who have been offered contracts to stay at Crabble will take them.

Captain Connor Essam, goalkeeper Mitch Walker, midfielders Liam Bellamy and Nicky Deverdics, defender Sean Francis and striker James Poole are yet to make a decision about their futures.

Assistant manager Jake Leberl says he has been in contact with them all to see what’s happening.

He said: “I’d like to think they will stay, given the positive chats I’ve had with them and I’ve had no other indication of anything different at this stage.

“It’s no secret that Connor and Nicky want to play in the Football League again and we are well aware of that.

“And who’s to say they won’t be doing that with Dover soon?

“There has been gossip about Nicky going to Luton Town but there is always plenty of that (gossip) at this time of the year.

"I think that if they would have been on anyone’s wanted list, they would have gone by now but who knows in this game? That could change in an instant.

“They (the six) have to let us know what’s happening soon, so hopefully we can get it all sorted and look forward to building on what we established this season.”

Goalkeeper Andy Rafferty, defenders Richard Orlu, Sean Raggett, Tyrone Sterling, Tom Winter and Richard Orlu, midfielder Ricky Modeste and forwards Stefan Payne and Tom Murphy are already under contract.

Defender Jamie Grimes has also joined from Kidderminster Harriers.

Leberl said that although it was the off-season, his phone has been busy.

He said: “You wouldn’t believe the number of calls I get from agents and players – it’s phenomenal.

“There is so much interest in players wanting to come to us, which is great but they’ve got to be the right ones.

“It’s a matter of seeing who’s out there and what they can bring to us. You can always strengthen.”