Dover Athletic name Margate manager Chris Kinnear as their new boss to replace departed Nicky Forster
Chris Kinnear has agreed to become the new manager
of Blue Square Bet South Dover after quitting Margate.
Whites placed former boss Nicky Forster on "gardening leave" on
Friday afternoon and Margate confirmed rumours on Saturday morning
that Kinnear will take up the Crabble hotseat with immediate
effect.
Kinnear became Margate manager for the second time in April 2011
and has taken the team to third in the Ryman League Premier
Division this season. He takes over a Dover side who sit in the
same position in the division above - but have lost their last five
games.
Margate CEO Cliff Egan told his club's website: “Chris has done
a great job here at Margate and the board would like to thank him
for all his hard work.
“At the moment, we are unable to compete with the resources that
Dover can offer their manager.
“Chris spent last night thinking about the offer on the table.
He came to the conclusion that it would be a great opportunity to
test himself at a higher level.
“I know he loves Margate and it wasn’t an easy decision for him,
but I understand why he has made it. He leaves the club with our
best wishes.”
Margate added that Kinnear and his assistant Jake Leberl, who
will also move to Dover in the same role, will take their last
training session with the players on Saturday while the search for
a new manager is already under way.
Dover chairman Jim Parmenter took the decision to relieve
Forster of his managerial duties following an emergency board
meeting on Friday. Whites had enjoyed a purple patch of form before
Christmas but their recent slump was highlighted last Saturday when
they were 5-0 down at Farnborough before half-time.
Forster and his assistant Steve Brown both signed two-year
contracts at Crabble which run until the end of next season while
they have been able to spend substantial transfer fees in
attracting Daryl McMahon and Moses Ademloa from league rivals
Eastleigh during the current campaign.
Should Dover have replaced Nicky Forster as manager? Is
Chris Kinnear the right man to earn promotion this season? Have
your say in our comments section below.
19/01/13
- Click here for more Deal, Dover and Sandwich news...
- Click here for more news from across the county...