Dover’s preparations for the new National League South season were dealt another blow with the departure of their player-assistant - less than two weeks after his first game for the club!

Ricky Holmes, 36, had agreed to link-up with Whites boss Mitch Brundle earlier this summer after they worked together at Farnborough.

But he became the third player to U-turn on his decision to sign for the Crabble club - having been offered a full-time role back at Farnborough - ahead of their friendly against Isthmian North side Enfield tonight.

In a statement on Dover’s Twitter account, Brundle said: “I have parted company with Ricky Holmes as assistant manager.

“I’m gutted, not only to see a friend go, but a fantastic coach.

“It was always going to be difficult for him, with his wedding coming up and being offered a role that will see him head into football full-time, which he always had aspirations to do and I fully respect them.

“As a club at the moment, we aren’t in a position to stand in his way.

“I wish him all the best and I know he will have a great future ahead of him.”

Former Portsmouth, Northampton, Charlton and Sheffield United winger/striker Holmes leaves just 10 days after he featured for Dover in their opening friendly 9-0 victory at Aylesford.

It comes after it was revealed player-of-the-year Myles Judd was joining league rivals Hemel Hempstead Town halfway through Saturday’s warm-up game 4-0 defeat to Gillingham, with midfielder Ademola Shokunbi having snubbed Whites for Isthmian Premier Dulwich Hamlet last week.

Ex-Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Lee Flavin, previously joint-manager of Sutton Common Rovers, has since become Brundle’s latest No.2.