Ryan Hanson turned down higher-division interest in favour of a Dover Athletic return.

Midfielder Hanson has rejoined the promotion-chasing Isthmian Premier Whites on loan from Tonbridge for the rest of this season, scoring on his Crabble comeback in last weekend’s 2-0 win against basement boys Bowers & Pitsea.

While Hanson had other options at Step 2 and Step 3, the opportunity to play for his hometown club again, this time under manager Jake Leberl, proved too good to turn down.

He said: “I had a few options at the level I was at - and, then, there were a few teams in this level [also interested].

“But when Dover were mentioned, I spoke to Jake and Mike (Sandmann, No.2), and it just seemed like a really good opportunity.

“I’ve been following the results all season. Even when I went down to Torquay, I was following them.

"It’s definitely been a bit better this season.

"Jake explained the plans for the end of the season, it’s the business end of the season, and I thought it was a great opportunity.”

The chance for the 24-year-old to depart Longmead for the remainder of this campaign came about quickly after the mid-table National League South Angels suffered a 2-0 loss at Hemel Hempstead.

“The result, basically, meant the play-offs were pretty difficult to get for Tonbridge,” he explained, with Tonbridge having since confirmed Jay Saunders will leave his managerial role this summer.

“They were kind of looking at saving a bit of budget before the end of the season so the loan became available.”

On his first Whites appearance since his return, Hanson headed in the opening goal, beating Luca Albon to the loose ball.

Luke Baptiste doubled Dover’s lead midway through the first half and, while it proved a largely comfortable afternoon, Leberl’s outfit could easily have had more goals.

“I’ve just been saying to a few of the lads I couldn’t believe how many chances we created,” Hanson said. “We probably could have had double figures.

“We had a clean sheet, as well. The lads alluded to the fact we hadn’t had many recently so it was good to get that.”

Hanson and manager Leberl hadn’t crossed paths much prior to last summer, despite both being local lads.

“I spoke to Jake in pre-season when Tonbridge had the fixture here,” revealed Hanson. “I don’t know Jake directly, but I’ve had a few conversations with him.

“He explained everything that’s happening at the club and that’s really exciting. Mike was Academy manager the first time I was here - he still is - so it just helps with the transition.

“Going into a team with 10 games left, you kind of want to hit the ground running.”

Hanson has also been club captain, albeit he wore the armband in the 2021/22 National League season that ended in relegation after just two wins.

He reflected: “I don’t think it can get much lower than that!

“I know I’d had a loan spell here in the Covid season, but that was my first season of men’s football. You’d hope it doesn’t get much worse than that in terms of results and everything the club was up against at that point in time.

“It was a difficult season, but it built a lot of resilience.”

While changing clubs midway through a campaign is never easy, there have been multiple familiar faces to make Hanson’s transition a simpler one.

He said: “As changing clubs goes, it’s been quite a smooth transition.

“As you have more years in football, you tend to know quite a few players.

"The youngsters that were coming through - George Nikaj, George Wilkinson and Luke Baptiste - were all here when I was here last time. I know Jacob Mensah and Francis Mampolo, as well.

“All the lads have been really good with me but, obviously, it helps in terms of settling in straight away when you know a few of them.”