It's a sad day to tell a honest and decent fellow he's out of a job - Dover chairman Jim Parmenter

DOVER ATHLETIC have parted company with manager Martin Hayes, 45, after only fifteen months in charge at Crabble.



The club issued a statement this morning on their official website www.doverathletic.com, saying, “Dover Athletic have today confirmed that Martin Hayes has been released from his contract by the club, following a difficult and disappointing start to the season.

“The club would like to place on the record it’s thanks to Martin for his efforts while at the club and wish him the best of luck for the future.”

The Whites are 12^th in the Blue Square Bet South table with just three wins and six draws from 11 games (eleven points adrift of leaders Woking and Dartford) and Hayes faced a fans’ backlash both at games and on internet fans’ forums following poor performances.

Chairman Jim Parmenter told BBC Radio Kent: "It's a sad day to tell an honest and decent fellow he's out of a job.

"Results have not gone as we had anticipated so with 25% of the season gone we felt it was the right time to make a change."

Hayes arrived in the summer of 2010 after Ian Hendon left to join Kent rivals Gillingham without taking charge of a Dover Athletic game.

Hayes' finest hour at Dover was a 2-0 win away to Gillingham in the FA Cup first round, a run which saw the club reach the third round for the first time in their history.

Dover had drawn their last four games and had won just one of their last nine matches.

Mr Parmenter added: "The game on Saturday (a 1-1 draw with Havant & Waterlooville) was our worst performance of the season, a very disappointing display. We have had a number of home game to put right whatever is not firing so we had to join the conclusion it was not going to turn round in the immediate future."

However, Dover Athletic are likely to start this season's FA Cup run on Saturday at home to Ryman Premier League side Carshalton Athletic with a new manager in place.


Mr Parmenter said: "I am sure we will have someone in place before the weekend. We know lots of people around, lots of people would like to manage Dover, I've already had phone calls this morning and it's to the well being of the club that we make a quick appointment so we are up and running for the FA Cup on Saturday."

Article courtesy of www.doverathletic.com & www.bbc.co.uk/kent/sport