The mass interchange of players between Dover Athletic and Ebbsfleet United increased further this week when Whites signed midfielder Ashley Carew.

It means nine players have now swapped shirts between the clubs during the close season with Nathan Elder, Liam Bellamy and Craig Stone also coming to Crabble from the north Kent club, now managed by former Dover assistant manager Steve Brown.

While Ben May, Daryl McMahon, Billy Bricknell, Shane Huke and Dean Rance have all moved in the opposite direction.

And the figure could soon reach double figures after Chris Sessegnon, released by Dover this week, came on in the second half of the Fleet’s 3-1 win over Erith & Belvedere on Tuesday.

It will all add further spice to the mix when the Whites host Ebbsfleet in their first Skrill South home game on August 20, but for the time being Dover manager Chris Kinnear is just pleased to have signed another player who has appeared in the top-flight of non-league.

He said: “Ashley can pass the ball well, he’s good at dead ball situations and he’s also got experience of playing in the Conference Premier with Ebbsfleet.”

Kinnear has also completed the signing of former Margate winger Tom Murphy. Whites’ boss previously had Murphy under his wing when he was in charge of the Thanet club and said: “He’s quick and his work-rate is second to none.

“He’s still young (21) and needs to get more composure and that will come by playing alongside the experienced players we’ve got.”

On Saturday Whites complete their pre-season programme with a trip to Skrill North side Brackley Town.