Dover Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter explains the exit of sacked manager Mitch Brundle as Jake Leberl and Mike Sandmann take charge at Crabble

Chairman Jim Parmenter concedes it was obvious struggling Dover “were not going in the right direction” after he sacked manager Mitch Brundle.

Brundle left the second-bottom National League South outfit on Tuesday after Saturday’s 4-3 loss at basement boys Havant & Waterlooville extended their winless league run to 19 games.

With Whites having drawn nine of their 21 league matches, Mr Parmenter had seen positive signs - despite not finding that elusive league victory - until recent matches.

He said: “I always say I will try to judge on performances, as well as results. A lot of our performances in those games were actually quite good this season.

“But the last few performances were not really up to the ones before and it was obvious that we were not going in the right direction.”

Dover haven’t won in the league since a 2-1 success at Slough in August.

They last kept a league clean sheet in April and haven’t won in National League South at Crabble since February 28.

While he accepts it’s not the sole factor, Mr Parmenter thinks key decisions made by the officials in recent matches have gone against Whites.

“We, as a club, have been unlucky in three or four games with refereeing decisions,” he said. “We had a good goal disallowed the other week.

“Referees can kick their feet up after games - but for managers it’s their jobs on the line.

“I’m not saying that’s the only factor but Mitch has been unlucky with a few decisions.”

On dismissing the former Gateshead, Barnet and Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder, he said: “You could argue it should have been done a little bit earlier. But you have to have your ducks in a row.

“Everybody deserves the best chance they can get - it’s not an exact science. You just have to make the call