Dover Athletic: Andy Hessenthaler makes admission over Mitch Brundle's future
18:00, 23 May 2019
Dover Athletic captain Mitch Brundle has food for thought as he contemplates the next step in his career, admits manager Andy Hessenthaler.
The club's Players' Player of the Year is currently weighing up his options having been offered a contract extension on the back of Whites' National League survival.
He is one of four players yet to respond to proposals of a new deal at Crabble along with Bedsente Gomis, Anthony Jeffrey and Joe Bedford.
"I'm hoping to know a little bit more in the next week," said Hessenthaler.
"Mitch Brundle is away in Thailand at the moment and isn't back for another week, he's got a lot of offers on the table though.
"His wife comes from up north and it would be for family reasons more than anything (if he decides against extending his Dover stay). We made him an offer we feel is right, but I won't hold any grudges with any decision he makes."
Brundle proved instrumental in helping to steer Dover to safety last season, supplying eight goals and leading the side with 13 assists across all competitions.
Gomis' composure and tone-setting industry in midfield also emerged as useful components, while Jeffrey enjoyed an eye-catching end to the campaign as a torment to defenders with his pace, directness and ever-improving final product on the left-hand side.
"Hopefully we'll know on Bedsente Gomis by the end of the week," added Hessenthaler.
"Anthony Jeffrey is a difficult one because he's preparing for the Gold Cup (with Guyana). We've got 12 players at the moment, we need to add another six really, if we do that we'll have a real strong 18.
"There's that chance of players taking a little while to decide and then by the time they decide my budget could have been spent. That's why I have to manage the budget as best as I can, you have to be careful.
"Sometimes players sit and wait and then there is a big scramble."
Dover have already tied down Bobby-Joe Taylor to a new two-year deal and recently strengthened their squad with the signing of former Crawley Town goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin.
Read more: Andy Hessenthaler backs first signing of the summer
Latest news
Features
Most popular
- 1
The abandoned ‘ghost road’ that once took holidaymakers to the Kent coast
18 - 2
Motorway reopens after fuel spillage in collision
- 3
Dad who took cocaine on holiday still had drug in system when stopped by police
- 4
Rolexes and crypto: How dealer selling drugs from bedroom hid ‘massive profits’
19 - 5
Christmas events cancelled amid weather warning
3