Whites boss Hessenthaler releases big names

Some of Dover Athletic’s best players are leaving the club. Seven players are on the list of those departing Crabble including captain and playerof-the-year Kevin Lokko and leading scorer for 2019/20 Inih Effiong.

Defender Lokko was made skipper by manager Andy Hessenthaler last summer and picked up the supporters’ award after the National League season that was cut short.

Lokko, formerly of Maidstone and Welling, has had two seasons with Dover and boss

Hessenthaler described his most recent form as “very good,” and added that he had been a “proper captain” that led by example.

He was a player Hessenthaler was hoping to have kept. Effiong is also leaving the club. He finished with the golden boot after scoring 16 goals in 38 games. He’s also spent the last two years with Dover. Ricky Modeste was in the running for the player-ofthe-year award but he’s leaving too. The Grenada international had a couple of spells with Dover, inbetween winning the Isthmian Premier title with Billericay. Winger Anthony Jeffrey is also among those to exit Crabble along with former Wolves full-back Aaron Simpson, midfielder Jai Reason and striker Ade Yusuff. There are 15 players who remain contracted. They are Yusif Mersin, Lee Worgan, Josh Passley, Bobby-joe Taylor, Will De Havilland, Michael Woods, Nassim L’ghoul,jack Munns, Kurtis Cumberbatch, Paul Rooney, Joe Bedford, Oscar Gobern, Steven Rigg, Bilel Hinchiri and Marshall Wratten. Players returning to their parent clubs are Ashley Maynard-brewer (Charlton), Dominic Poleon (Newport) and Shadrach Ogie (Leyton Orient).

Kevin Lokko - among seven players to leave Dover