Dover Athletic part company with Mitch Brundle after losing relegation six-pointer away to managerless Havant & Waterlooville

DOVER ATHLETIC chairman Jim Parmenter has parted company with manager Mitch Brundle.

The Crabble outfit are second-from-bottom in the Vanarama National League South table, having picked up 12 points (one win, nine draws and 11 defeats) from their 21 league games.

Dover Athletic are 11 points adrift of safety (taking goal-difference into account) and suffered a 4-3 defeat away to Havant & Waterlooville in Brundle’s last game in charge of the club.

Havant & Waterlooville are the only side beneath Dover Athletic in the table and the Hampshire side have closed the gap to three points.

The Hampshire outfit parted company with their manager Steve King on Friday 1 December and put their under 23 management team (Cliff De Gordon, Ross Betteridge and Richard Pope, alongside current first-team goalkeeping coach Alan Walker-Harris) in temporary charge.

“I would like to thank Mitch for his tireless efforts during his time at the club, he has worked diligently to try and improve the club’s results,” said Parmenter in a statement.

“Unfortunately, even when we have drawn so many matches those wins have continued to be elusive, therefore it is time to take a different direction."

The struggling club has appointed Jake Leberl and Mike Sandmann as their new management team.

"Neither Jake nor Mike need any introduction to supporters and they bring with them enormous combined knowledge and experience," added Parmenter.

"They begin their task with immediate effect and further changes and additions will be announced in due course.

"Our supporters will be invaluable as we begin the huge challenge in front of us and I urge everyone to get behind the team as our twelfth man."

Dover Athletic travel to Plymouth to tackle Truro City on Saturday 9 December (15:00) on a 13 match winless run in all competitions.

The Whites last celebrated a victory on Saturday 30 September when Isthmian League Premier Division side Haringey Borough were beaten 2-1 in The FA Cup Third Qualifying Round.

Dover Athletic’s only league victory came on match day two, when they claimed a 2-1 win at Slough Town on Saturday 12 August.

The Kent coastal club last played in the Isthmian League Premier Division in season 2008-2009, claiming the league title at the first attempt under Andy Hessenthaler's management.

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