Boss Mitch Brundle insists he won’t panic - as he aims to appoint a Dover assistant for the third time this summer!

Lee Flavin, previously joint-manager of Sutton Common Rovers, only joined last month after Ricky Holmes left his player-assistant position to rejoin Farnborough. But Flavin explained the situation had already become unworkable for him with the Crabble club on Sunday as he left, too.

While 28-year-old Brundle accepts he has made mistakes, he believes there are enough people still looking for roles and suggested experienced ex-Exeter and Portsmouth midfielder James Dunne could potentially be handed that place on his backroom staff.

“I’ve made mistakes in there,” admitted Brundle, who intends to add someone else to his coaching team, regardless of any potential new role 33-year-old Dunne may get.

“Ricky was always going to be a player-assistant. Obviously, I had to have someone in at the start of pre-season. He decided he’s not going to go forward that way.

“But there’s enough people who are out of jobs and we have got experience in the building in James Dunne. He has been helping me already.

“We speak all the time. He’s come in and is getting to that stage where he will be making that changeover anyway.

“Dunney is a fantastic guy to have at the club. He’s played in National League South and captained in National League South, so there’s no rush or panic.

“You always like to work with people with different opinions to you. Me and Dunney have been doing that so far already.

“It’s just a matter of finding the right ones.”

On ex-Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Flavin’s departure, Brundle added: “It’s disappointing.

“It just didn’t fit at this time, but I thank Lee for everything he did. He has decided he will not be continuing with us going forward. We’re at the stage where lots of lads are moving.

“There’s lots of noise about the club and about it not being run in the right way.

“But the only people who know how the club is being run are in the building.”

Whites ended their run of friendlies ahead of Saturday’s National League South opener with a 4-2 triumph against Isthmian South East Ashford United last weekend.

“It was very good,” the manager reflected.

“It’s always nice to finish the last game of pre-season with a win but, like I’ve said before, the results don’t really matter.

“We had a couple missing for the game, just with muscle tightness and stuff like that, but they should be fine for Saturday.

“It was another great workout.”

Young striker George Nikaj netted against Ashford, having bagged a hat-trick in last midweek’s 5-3 triumph at Deal Town, while Luke Baptiste and Imran Kayani also struck against the Nuts & Bolts.

Brundle said: “It’s always good for these lads to get goals in pre-season and find the back of the net.

“He played for me last year - but that’s gone now. This is a completely different team.

“George has scored against lower-league opposition. Now, the test will be ‘Can he do it against teams in National League South?’.”

It’s a tough test for Whites, who host one of the promotion favourites, Torquay, at Crabble this Saturday.

Brundle said: “It’s a really tough start.

“I don’t know if they’re ‘the’ favourites but I’m sure they will be up there.

“First game of the season, hopefully, we get a good crowd in. I know they will be good opposition.

“It’s about us finding the best way to pull off an upset. The pressure is on them.”

Among the club’s host of summer signings has been 19-year-old goalkeeper Billy Terrell, who has joined on a season-long loan from Premier League Bournemouth.

“He’s a good kid,” said Brundle, who has also got in defenders Connor Naylor and teenage Grenada international Roman Charles-Cook, ex-Dartford midfielder Olu Durojaiye and forward Oreofe Bello.

“He has a big personality.

“Billy sweeps the lines well and is a big voice. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does and could be a massive asset this year.

“You’re always looking to bring someone in. But he’s come in to play.

“Hopefully, he’ll play well enough to stay there.”