LEE SHEARER could be heading out of Gravesend and back to former club Dover on loan.

The Whites lost 5-2 away to fellow strugglers Chelmsford on Monday and new manager Steve Browne is desperate to shore up a creaking defence that has the worst record in the Ryman League, Premier Division.

Fleet manager Andy Ford confirmed: “We have received an inquiry from Dover about Lee but no deal has been done.”

Shearer, who will be 27 later this month, moved from Margate to Stonebridge Road in the summer of 2003. A former schoolboy international, he started his career with Leyton Orient in 1995, making 50 appearances.

He had a spell on loan with Dover which later became permanent and was the mainstay of their defence before signing for Margate in 2002.