New Dover manager Martin Hayes at Crabble Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Alex Hoad

New Dover boss Martin Hayes says he is the right man to take over at Crabble and can’t wait to start work on getting Whites back to the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Hayes has signed a one-year part-time deal at Crabble and met the players for the first time on Tuesday night.

He spent three months playing for Dover under Peter Taylor in 1995/96 and said: "I’m pleased to be back."

The former Arsenal, Celtic and Swansea winger spent almost nine years as manager at Bishop’s Stortford, taking them through the divisions and close to promotion to non-league football’s top flight.

The 44-year-old revealed he had been frustrated by his previous managerial position at Wingate & Finchley, adding: "I didn’t want any old job. I wanted to get back to a higher level. Nothing against the players at that level but it could be frustrating.

"This club is ideally set to get back to the Conference where it belongs and where I want to be."

Hayes said he felt "disappointed" not to have been offered the job last month after a positive interview and added: "There is a bit of pride there but I don’t consider myself to be a second choice.

"The chairman told me at the time he was more than happy with either of the candidates.

"Obviously I feel he made the wrong choice in the first place but life’s too short to dwell on things like that."

Can Martin Hayes bring success to Dover next season? Leave your comments below.