Dover Athletic assistant manager and Academy boss Mike Sandmann on him and manager Jake Leberl having their families on their promotion-winning Isthmian Premier journey

Mike Sandmann has explained how Dover’s inclusiveness towards the management teams’ families have helped make his first-team commitments more enjoyable.

Whites’ Isthmian League return was a brief one as their promotion-winning squad returned to National League South football with a 2-0 play-off final victory at Dartford.

For assistant Sandmann, who also runs the club’s successful Academy, based at Faversham’s Abbey School, there are plenty of plates to spin.

It’s a similar story for boss Jake Leberl - also a dad - but Sandmann and Leberl have been able to bring their children to games, making the senior football commitments they make that much easier.

“Credit to the management team, the staff and the players because I've really enjoyed being part of it,” said Sandmann, who stepped back from his first-team duties when Mitch Brundle was in charge in 2023, only to become Leberl’s No.2 that December. “Credit to Jake.

“We work extremely well together. We're very different but very similar at times.

“We both have the best intentions of the football club at heart and it seems to be working really well. We bounce off each other extremely well.

“I think you have to have that - and I think the players need that. Myself and Jake have got families and our families have been able to be on this journey this year with us.

“Having our sons at the games and enjoying that moment has been huge, not just for me, but I know for Jake, as well.

“When you see how much enjoyment they get out of it, it gives you that extra incentive to want to do well and want them to be part of the process. From my point of view, it's something I'm really enjoying and that's credit to the players, the staff and the football club.

“If you're not enjoying your