Manager Mitch Brundle remains on the hunt for extra support on the sidelines at Dover - with the availability of his latest right-hand man now limited.

Brundle is without a No.2 as Whites aim to move clear of the National League South relegation zone.

He appointed Ricky Holmes as player-assistant in the summer but he left to rejoin Saturday’s hosts Farnborough in a similar role and, although 28-year-old Brundle moved swiftly to bring in Lee Flavin, he didn’t last long.

Scout Errol Johnson started the season alongside Dover’s boss in the dugout but his matchday availability is now limited after he took up a scouting position at Championship club Southampton.

While Brundle has actively been looking for people who could join his backroom team, with Whites working with a fairly small budget, they would be very particular about anyone who comes in.

Brundle said: “I’ve not stopped looking. It’s just about finding the right person at the right time and in the right place.

“They have got to fit. They would have to fit for me, they would have to fit for the players and it’s also got to fit for the fans in terms of bringing someone in who matches my energy.

“I cannot help it that, when I’m on the side, I feel like I’m playing. I probably go home now more tired from jumping up and down on the sidelines than I did when I played.

“We’re always looking to progress but we do need to add little bits of quality.

“That will really help us kick on.”

Brundle says south London scout Johnson - someone he described as “a massive figure” in his life in August - is still supporting him, even when he cannot attend matchdays.

“I still speak to him every day,” explained Brundle. “He’s someone very close to me but he’s got his new job and he’s off doing what he is doing.

“He’s a scout for Southampton, so there’s some games he has to go to during the day but he’s still there for me.”

Dover came close to bagging a much-needed second National League South success this season against 10-man Hemel Hempstead last weekend.

A controversial stoppage-time penalty ensured they were forced to settle for a third straight 2-2 draw at Crabble after goals from frontmen Nick Dembele and Zidan Sutherland in either half, as their wait for a first league home win since February goes on.

The game was played in front of a bumper crowd of 1,675 on a productive community day. Their average attendance before the weekend had been 622 from eight games in all competitions.

They will have to wait until November 4 until they next return to competitive Crabble action now, though.

They travel to Farnborough and then face Isthmian South East Beckenham in the Kent Senior Cup Second Round on Tuesday.

“I always like the fans to come in their numbers,” said Brundle. “I hope that my team is putting on performances which they think are exciting.

“For a neutral to come and watch that on Saturday, I’m sure it’s a good game of football. They would have seen two teams really going for it.

“It’s not like we are playing safe football.

“We are an exciting team to watch, but we just need to nullify the little errors.”

Dover drew once again at play-off chasing Chelmsford on Monday night, taking the lead three times before being pegged back on each occasion.

Midfielder Josh Anifowose, Sutherland and captain James Dunne, with a late penalty, all scored.

Playmaker Iffy Allen has started both of Dover’s past two games on the bench while Roman Charles-Cook only returned as a substitute in Essex after international duty.

Brundle is happier with their squad depth now than he previously has been.

He said: “When we are making substitutions, we’re not making substitutions for the sake of it.

“We’re making substitutions where I feel the players coming on can really impact the game. In some games, that doesn’t happen.

“But the majority of the time, I think we’re now making substitutions which will really benefit the team.”

Despite drawing their last four National League South encounters - three of which have been against teams in the top nine - Dover sit in the bottom four with just 10 points from 13 games.