Dover Athletic part company with boss Chris Kinnear: We need to move forward in a manner that gives us the best opportunity to progress – that means avoiding relegation as a minimum and ideally pushing on towards the other end of the table

DOVER ATHLETIC have parted company with manager Chris Kinnear for a second time - after 918 games in charge of the club.

The Whites are currently second-from-bottom in the Vanarama National League table with seven points from their opening 14 games (winning once).

A club statement, which was published on www.doverathletic.com said: “It is with regret that we announce the departure of first team manager Chris Kinnear.

“Chris has been a big part of Dover’s success over recent years and the board recognise this.  However, our current position and form is not something we can allow to continue.

“Three weeks ago at a meeting between the board and the manager, Chris was asked to produce a written plan of what steps he would be taking and what support he needed from the board to rectifying our current situation, sadly this did not materialise in a satisfactory form and results have not improved.

“As a consequence, chairman Jim Parmenter today relieved Chris of his position.”

Mr Parmenter added:  “This has been a really tough decision to take, I have worked with Chris for a long time, he has been highly successful with us, but football is changing.  There has clearly been some poor player recruitment decisions taken during closed season, which is something we will be addressing.  

“There are also a number of issues around training and our ways of working, which we will be looking at.

“We have a good setup at the club, a decent playing budget and supporters who want to be proud of their team. 

“We need to move forward in a manner that gives us the best opportunity to progress – that means avoiding relegation as a minimum and ideally pushing on towards the other end of the table”.

Dover Athletic currently train on a grass pitch at K Sports’ facility in Aylesford in Kent late in the afternoon.  Their National League rivals Ebbsfleet United train on the same pitch during the morning.

Assistant manager Jake Leberl will take charge for tomorrow’s game against league leaders Salford City.

The club statement added: “The club will be making an announcement early next week about the future direction of the playing team and football management team.

“Everyone at the club would like to thank Chris for his efforts during his second stint at the club.  We know that the start to this season has been as difficult to stomach for him as it has for us all.  We wish him luck and success in the future.”

Kinnear was first in charge at Crabble between 1985-1995 and returned for his second spell in January 2013.

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com