Midfielder Ryan Hanson turned down interest at Step 2 and Step 3 level in favour of rejoining promotion-chasing Isthmian Premier side Dover Athletic on loan from Tonbridge Angels

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 chance 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 the 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 opener, beating Luca Albon to the loose ball.

Luke Baptiste then doubled Dover’s lead midway through the first half and, while it proved a largely comfortable